Beijing: Ethiopian superstar Kenenisa Bekele will be looking on Sunday to defend not only his 10,000 metres Olympic title but to seal the first half of the double that just eluded him in Athens in 2004.
The 26-year-old along with his compatriots the legendary Haile Gebrselassie and Sileshi Sihine - silver medallist in Athens - hope to extend Ethiopia's hold on the Olympic title over their bitter Kenyan rivals for a fourth successive Olympics.
While 35-year-old Gebrselassie - whose bid for a third successive title was foiled by Bekele in Athens where he finished fifth - has opted for the 10,000m as a second choice because he was wary of the air quality for the marathon, Bekele has no such qualms over being affected by the pollution.
"The problem of pollution will be the same for all the athletes competing there," he said. "Beijing will be very different."
Bekele has rebounded from the death in 2005 of his fiancee, 18-year-old Alem Techale, from an apparent heart attack while on a training run with him.
Bekele, who in November last year married Ethiopian film actress Danawit Gebregziabher, is far from certain to attempt the double after twice falling just short, in Athens and the 2003 world championships.
"Bekele wants to run the two races," the athlete's agent Jos Hermens said.
"He is in very good form and it will be a challenge for him. But it's a little hard and he can change his mind after the 10,000m, because the 5,000m heats start two days after."
The longer race remains his priority and it may be more Sihine that poses a problem for him than the ageing legs of Gebrselassie while the Kenyan trio are an unknown quantity.
Bekele, though, will not let the crown slip from his head easily and like Gebrselassie is intent on not letting his past exploits diminish his enthusiasm and hunger for more titles.
"It's true that at this stage of my career, at my age, I have achieved many feats. But I want to remain at this level and in this sport for many years to come," Bekele said after winning another world cross country title earlier this year in Scotland.
As for the Kenyans they will be determined not to suffer the fate that befell the team in the African championships earlier this year when they suffered the ignominy of being lapped in the 10,000m.
On paper the young trio - two are 22 and the other 23 - should not trouble the Ethiopians as only Martin Mathathi has a senior medal to his name, bronze in the 2007 world championships, though were Micah Kogo to replicate his performance when winning the Golden League race in Brussels two years ago he could get among the medals.
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