Gebrselassie Defeats Tergat in 2000 10,000 at Sydney

by Marc Bloom

The Race

It was misfortune that led to the greatest 10,000-meter duel of all. In Sydney, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, the defending champion and world recordholder (26:22.75), was hurt. His Achilles tendon throbbed and his speed, especially in the closing laps, could be compromised. At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Gebrselassie had defeated Paul Tergat, the 6-foot former basketball player from Kenya, with a sizzling 28.4-second last 200. Tergat, the former world 10,000 recordholder who would collect five world cross-country titles, had never beaten Gebrselassie in a major track event.

But as the Sydney 10,000 unfolded, Tergat could sense that Gebrselassie was vulnerable. The man who would set 17 world records let the pace dawdle. Gebrselassie and Tergat stuck in a lead pack of nine men, passing the 5,000 mark in a tepid 13:45.88. Twice, at 6,000 and 9,000, Gebrselassie moved to the front, but each time he slowed the pace, then relinquished the lead. Where was Gebrselassie's brazen style? He seemed to be seeking security in the group, suggesting a posture of surrender. Tergat, too, held his ground, and six men, all Africans, were still together when the bell sounded for the last lap.

The record crowd of 112,524 stood, anticipating the explosion: Gebrselassie's kick. It had never failed him. But it was Tergat who bolted ahead with 250 to go. He'd been wedged in a box and had to swing wide. He got the jump on Gebrselassie and beat him to inside, leading him around the final turn and onto the home straight. Tergat, yet to win Olympic gold, ran with all he had. Gebrselassie charged after him but looked ragged. His torso listed, his stride was uneven. But if Gebrselassie lacked crispness he did not lack will. He drew closer.closer, finally on Tergat's right shoulder with 50 meters left and the gold medal within grasp.

Who would take it?

Tergat, tall and elegant, pumped furiously with hands clenched. Gebrselassie, compact, drove with desperation, his grimace testimony to his bum leg. Approaching the line, Tergat gave way, leaning, a blink of submission. Gebrselassie, erect, crossed the line first. It was the closest Olympic 10,000 ever. Gebrselassie's winning time was 27:18.20. Tergat, second, ran 27:18.29. When Gebrselassie walked off the track, he revealed the extent of his pain, a seductive gift to Tergat, who, for all his greatness, probably never had a chance.

Eyewitness: Jos Hermens, Geb's Manager and Coach

Geb should never have been 2000 Olympic champion. He was heavily injured. Weeks before Sydney, we had decided that Gebrselassie would not run and I had appointments with doctors in Switzerland and Finland to consider surgery on his Achilles tendon. Geb finally chose to compete but he was in pain all the time in Sydney. He had not trained properly for three months. Tergat was in the shape of his life. That's how we got this exciting race.

Between the 10,000 heat and final, Geb was treated by the physio-therapists we brought to Sydney. But it seemed quite hopeless. The tendon was swollen, inflamed. Geb could not sprint. When he ran, he favored the leg, giving him injuries in the other leg from over-compensating. Before the final, during his warm-up, Geb was limping. But mentally he seemed able to block the pain. At the practice track, when Geb saw Tergat, he did some strong strides to impress Tergat. Rumors circulated about Geb's injury. He didn't want Tergat to feel he had an advantage. He knew that Tergat's coach was a medical man who would tell him that Geb was not ready. When Geb and Tergat talked before the final, Paul asked Haile how he was doing. Haile gave Paul his biggest smile and said, "I'm doing fantastic."

Just before Geb went out onto the track for the race, I met with him for last instructions. At every meet, I'd tell him something affirmative, a last remark to be in his head as he took the line. For example, "there's no wind, the climate is perfect." Or, "It just rained, there's a lot of oxygen in the air." This time, knowing my concern, Geb beat me to it. Before walking through the tunnel to the track, he turned to me and said, "Jos, look at the sky, it's world record weather." That was his assurance to me that he would win.

I could tell Geb was in pain the entire race. I feel that he triumphed on one leg. He's so strong-minded he would train through pain. Earlier, I had to tell his wife: warn me if Geb seems like he's hurt. Immediately after the Sydney 10,000, when Geb came off the track to embrace me, the first thing he said was, "I was lucky to survive this race." The second thing he said was, "It's time to see a doctor." He had Achilles tendon surgery that fall.

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