Jansen Saves His Best for Last

Jansen Saves His Best for Last

A gold medal and a world record in 1994

By Mike Morrison

Though Tonya and Nancy dominated the headlines at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, the persistence and heart of American speed skater Dan Jansen showed us all what the true spirit of the Olympics was meant to be.

Six years prior, at the 1988 Games in Calgary, Jansen, the world sprint champion, was the heavy favorite to take home the gold in both the 500- and 1000-meter events.

But on the very day he was to compete in the 500, his sister, Jane Beres, died from leukemia. While her death was not unexpected, it was obviously a crushing blow to the psyche of the 23-year-old Jansen.

With the world pulling for him, Jansen took to the ice just hours after his sister's death. But less than ten seconds into the race, he fell rounding a turn, slid off the track, and was eliminated. The nightmare continued three days later at the 1000-meter event, as Jansen fell again and failed to finish.

Four years later at the 1992 Games in Albertville, Jansen sought redemption. While no longer the overwhelming favorite that he was in 1988, he was still the defending World Cup champion in the 500 meters, and the predicted Olympic champ.

But once again, it was not meant to be. Jansen skated well, but one minor stumble was enough to keep him off the medal podium. He finished in fourth place, 32-hundredths of a second behind gold-medallist Uwe-Jens Mey of Germany. Days later, a beleaguered Jansen finished the 1000 meters in 26th place.

He entered the 1994 Games in Norway figuring it would be his last chance for Olympic gold. He came into the games as the World Cup champion and new record-holder in the 500 meters, but his critics still bemoaned his Olympic failures.

Three hundred meters into the 500-meter event, it happened again. Jansen lost his balance coming around a turn and dragged his hand on the ice. In a sport where hundredths of seconds mean so much, the mistake was enough to push him back to eighth.

He would have just one more shot. The 1,000 meters was his final race, and it was a distance that—by his own admission—wasn't his forte.

But Jansen went out like gangbusters and by the 800-meter mark was on a world-record pace. When he staggered yet again, the whole world gasped. But this time, he was able to right himself. Jansen crossed the finish line in 1:12.43, good for not only his first gold medal, but also an unexpected world record to boot.

He took a victory lap in front of 10,000 screaming Norwegians and scores of clapping Olympians.

And in his arms he carried his baby daughter, Jane, named for his older sister.

El Guerrouj buries demons, finally wins gold

.12-second victory for undisputed middle-distance champion

Image: El Guerrouj, Kaouch

Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

After winning the 1,500-meter gold medal, Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco celebrates with fellow countryman Adil Kaouch of Morocco.

Slide show

• Visions of gold: Aug. 27
Poland's Robert Korzeniowski earns his third Olympic 50km race walk gold and fans cheer Canada's Marie Helene Premont on to mountain bike race silver.

The Associated Press

Updated: 10:25 a.m. ET Aug. 25, 2004

ATHENS, Greece - Hicham El Guerrouj is no longer the world’s greatest middle-distance runner never to win an Olympic title. Now, he’s simply the greatest, period.

In Atlanta in 1996, the Moroccan tripped on the final lap and finished last. Four years ago in Sydney, he was overtaken in the final meters by Noah Ngeny, then lay sobbing on the track in despair, convinced he’d let down his entire country.

All that heartbreak evaporated Tuesday night when El Guerrouj held off Kenya’s Bernard Lagat in a thrilling shoulder-to-shoulder sprint in the final straight to win the only title to elude him — and the one he craved the most.

“Four years ago in Sydney I cried tears of sadness,” he said. “Today I cry tears of joy. I’m living a moment of glory. I’m overjoyed for myself and for my country.”

El Guerrouj threw his arms high in the air and looked up to the sky after crossing the finish line in 3:34.18, just 12-hundredths of a second faster than Lagat. Portugal’s Rui Silva took the bronze in 3:34.68.

In some of the most poignant scenes of the Athens Games, the 29-year-old El Guerrouj fell to his knees on the track, buried his face in his hands and cried uncontrollably. Lagat was the first to congratulate him, kneeling down and holding him in a warm embrace.

“Hicham El Guerrouj is a classy athlete,” Lagat said. “He was only missing one thing, Olympic gold. I knew he wanted this one so bad. I was really happy for him. It was quite emotional. You feel for him. You know he’s deserving and he got it today.”

El Guerrouj rolled over onto his back, his chest heaving with sobs. Then he set off on a victory lap, draped in the Moroccan flag. He went over to his 19-year-old wife, Majuva, in the stands and kissed their baby daughter, Hiba.

“Today I ran for her and for my family,” he said. “Inshallah (God willing), she will be happy for her papa.”

El Guerrouj danced to the Greek music blaring from the loudspeakers, then took a cell phone call from the king of Morocco, Mohammed VI. After the devastating experiences of the last two Olympics, this was a moment to treasure.

“It had become a psychological complex,” said his longtime coach, Abdelkaker Kada. “The Olympic medal was all that was left. Now, for me, today he becomes the best miler in history.”

El Guerrouj has been the undisputed middle-distance king for more than a decade, with four straight world championship titles, and world records in the 1,500 and mile.

But this year he looked vulnerable. His 29-race winning streak ended July 2 when he finished a stunning eighth at a Rome meet. He complained of breathing problems. He finished second to Lagat in a final Olympic tuneup in Zurich, with the Kenyan clocking a world-leading 3:27.40.

“It’s been a very, very difficult year,” he said. “I didn’t even know if I would come to the Olympics. But I overcame the challenges. This shows Hicham is a great athlete.”

The race lived up to expectations.

El Guerrouj went in front on the second lap and took control of the pace, with Lagat right behind him. On the final lap, El Guerrouj tried to break away, but Lagat stayed with him. Around the last bend, Lagat made his move on the outside, pulling alongside El Guerrouj. The two ran all-out, stride for stride, toward the line.

Lagat grimaced with exertion, but El Guerrouj remained smooth and controlled. In the last few meters, Lagat tightened up and the Moroccan pulled half a stride ahead to finish first.

“In the last 100 meters I knew it was going to come down to the kick,” Lagat said. “I was right behind him all the way. With 50 meters left I thought this could be another Zurich, but he had the strongest kick today.”

El Guerrouj said he accelerated with 400 meters to go, then again with 200 meters left, and yet still couldn’t shake Lagat.

“In the last 50 meters I had the image of Sydney in my mind,” he said. “In Sydney I didn’t have the energy to accelerate at the end. This time I had the energy. I felt I could push it. I knew I would win.”

It’s not over yet for El Guerrouj. He’s also running the 5,000 meters in a bid to become the first athlete to win the 1,500 and 5,000 at the same Olympics since Finnish great Paavo Nurmi in 1924. Qualifying starts Wednesday.

“I’m really hungry,” he said. “I have a huge desire to win the gold. It will be a great battle with the Kenyans.”

It also won’t be the last Olympic 1,500 race for El Guerrouj. He said he plans to compete in Beijing in 2008.

Among those savoring El Guerrouj’s victory was Nawal El Moutawakel, who won the 400-meter hurdles in Los Angles in 1984 to become the first gold medalist from Morocco and the first woman from a Muslim nation to win an Olympic medal.

“This means to much for the youth of the country,” she said. “Hicham is a hero, a great role model for generations yet to come. He has worked for this for a long time. It was all about dedication and willpower and guts.”