What a special moment at the end. Lagat had just fallen short in his biggest chance to be an Olympic champion (he never won Olympic gold), but he understood how significant and emotional it was for El Gerrouj who should have won the previous two Olympic finals but had to wait 8 years to finally win it. Lagat showed genuine happiness for his great competitor in the true spirit of the Olympics. I'll always admire him for the way he handled this defeat. El Gerrouj deserved to win it by taking it on with 800m to go. Incredibly he would go on later that week to beat the amazing Kenenisa Bekele in Bekele's specialty, the 5000m to cap an incredible career!!
Even more impressive is the fact that almost all the athletes went after the race to pay respect to the greatest middledistance runner of all times. That was a hell of a race and I feel lucky I was able to watch it from the stadium.
Yes, I always wonder if at some deep level Lagat stopped pushing in those last 10 meters. El Guerrouj won that race b/c he is the GOAT. But I still ask myself if Lagat wanted EG to win. What was the time on Silva's last lap? That man was flying!
El Geurrouj came back from falling in 1996 Atlanta and losing second in Sydney 2000. But winning double gold in this 1500m and later some days the 5000m (Athens 2004). That was a legendary moment. THE GOAT...Hicham el Geurrouj. Fantastic runner. He is still the current world record holder in 1500m.
A real thriller. Two guys who both deserved to win. Just all time greats going to the line together. Great sportsmanship from Lagat. I'd have been heartbroken.
That last scene when they are all there hugging is what the magic of true sportsman ship and respect for each other means. A beautiful moment is sports history.
Kenyan blockade, per usual, in the first 600 meters (Lagat a beneficiary)...guarantees that there will runners who waste energy in that first part of the race trying to challenge it, and in the process challenging one another. El G reacts calmly, starting at the back...moving up slowly (I've noticed Jakob I. using this strategy), even if it means running wide for quite awhile. By 800m, he is at the front, carrying himself smoothly in the same rhythm he began the race with. It's all about energy conservation, staying out of dangerous situations, because in the home stretch you'll need that energy.
On two occasions in the last 100m, I thought Lagat had him. But somehow, El Guerrouj summoned reserves of strength from Goodness knows where, to win it. It was probably even a more deserved win than his world record time win, because he was pushed to the very limit by Lagat. A hard earned Gold for sure !!!
Bloody hell what was Rui Silva's last lap? He was near dead last at the bell, i remember watching the final with 150m to go when he flew past Estevez and onto heshko's shoulder thinking "Holy s**t, i think Silva might win this!" If he was even mid pack it would have been interesting to see if he would have caught them. He had so much work to do and had to run so wide around everyone.
T & F archive amazing last lap of Portuguese runner 50.9 I hand timed. He made up 10 of the 13m in one lap. I think this guy could have won that day if not 12th at bell lap
amazing last lap of Portuguese runner 50.9 I hand timed. He made up 10 of the 13m in one lap. I think this guy could have won that day if not 12th at bell lap. Watch the race again look at 12th placed runner on last lap
amazing last lap of Portuguese runner 50.9 I hand timed. He made up 10 of the 13m in one lap. I think this guy could have won that day if not 12th at bell lap. Watch the race again look at 12th placed runner on last lap
That was Lagats one golden opportunity to actually beat the greatest 1500m runner of all time. But he fluffed his lines, but made it a great and memorable race.
Alcanzó su meta de ser campeón olímpico el goat el guer rouj,pero fíjense el portugués creo que era él último una vuelta antes y remontó posiciones y llegó tercero.mala suerte para el en una carreta tan significativa
David Antunes amazing last lap of Portuguese runner 50.9 I hand timed. He made up 10 of the 13m in one lap. I think this guy could have won that day if not 12th at bell lap. Watch the race again look at 12th placed runner on last lap
amazing last lap of Portuguese runner 50.9 I hand timed. He made up 10 of the 13m in one lap. I think this guy could have won that day if not 12th at bell lap. Watch the race again look at 12th placed runner on last lap
A wonderful finish & an awesome competition to the end. - Well done Guerrouj finally you have your Olympic Gold this day back in History. Lagat you were a great rival and a wonderful sportsman. Just superb moments in Sports History.
amazing last lap of Portuguese runner 50.9 I hand timed. He made up 10 of the 13m in one lap. I think this guy could have won that day if not 12th at bell lap. Watch the race again look at 12th placed runner on last lap
backfromthetrack amazing last lap of Portuguese runner 50.9 I hand timed. He made up 10 of the 13m in one lap. I think this guy could have won that day if not 12th at bell lap. Watch the race again look at 12th placed runner on last lap
amazing last lap of Portuguese runner 50.9 I hand timed. He made up 10 of the 13m in one lap. I think this guy could have won that day if not 12th at bell lap. Watch the race again look at 12th placed runner on last lap
Maaan i appreciat your analysis. .. but this is stupid he had no chance El G was the master at that time he could die for a golden medal, it was he's last opportunity.. He did the perfect Run...
@@atlacpescador6205 you're right So g would kill the final stretch. And that crazy last lap would tire him against the more srbaiblw consistent approach of el guerouj
@@jeremyhomewood9573 HOW TRUE,,, LET'S GIVE SAID FULL CREDIT, BECAUSE SAID WAS ABLE TO BEAT WORLD CLASS FIELDS UP TO THE I0'000 METRES!!!!!!!!!!!!! FROM 800M 1:43 TO I0 K 27:23 ,,,,we will never see this MAGIC AGAIN,,,, PHENOMENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
هذا الرجل هو العداء المظلوم 20 سنة من التداريب ليتوج أخيرا بهذه الميدالية الذهبية الغالية بأتينا سنة 2004 بعد أن ضيع أولمبياد 96 و2000 بكل من أتلانتا وسيدني لكن الروح والعزيمة والصبر هم السر وراء هذا البطل الأسطورة هشام الكروج يستحق كل الاحترام والتقدير
تحياتي لكل الابطال المغاربة كروج. عويطة سكاح براهيم بوطيب صلاح حيسوا جواد غريب نوال المتوكل حسنى بن حسي كل هاد الابطال مثلوا المغرب والعرب في ملتقيات عالمية وحازوا عن الدهب
@@Juanphj14 When a middle distance runner holds the 800,1000,1500 and Mile World Records at the same time and wins consecutive Olympic Golds @ 1500 metres then let's talk. All these records without quality pacesetters btw. Until that time, there can be only one!!
bravo hichamm le rifi du 59 vous di ca va comme ca vive mohamed6 vives les marocains et vive le maroc ..allah alwoitan almalik.le sahara dima marocaines
amazing last lap of Portuguese runner 50.9 I hand timed. He made up 10 of the 13m in one lap. I think this guy could have won that day if not 12th at bell lap. Watch the race again look at 12th placed runner on last lap
true but Aouita broke world recors from 1500 to double mile and didnt lack endurance so he could win at a fast pace as well as slow pace..either or he'll beat ya
Lagat has the biggest feet I have ever seen. As a fan of track and field it is my duty to watch this race about once @ month. Man, do I miss these type of commentators.
Don't know why but I always thought there was something fishy about this race...Lagat had him and then just seemed to change his stride and pull back in the last 20m.
@Karim Messaoudi may be you don't know Khalid Skah ??He won the Olympic Gold in 1992 ahead of our boy who since died Richard Chelimo,so do your homework good,Khalid was better than even Hisham and said Aouita in long distance 10,000 mitres races,be informed its Not history am reading but first hand experience watching them perform. So don't take anything away from him,he deserves
