Ethiopians turn mental strength into gold
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-28 10:12

NAIROBI, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Mental strength, relaxed running and respect for women have allowed Ethiopia to surpass neighbours Kenya as the world's premier distance-running nation, leading manager Jos Hermens says.

Kenenisa Bekele (L) of Ethiopia, Tariku Bekele (R) of Ethiopia and Boniface Songok (5) of Kenya compete in the men's 3000 metres during the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix September 17, 2005. Bekele won the race with a time of 7:36.36. [Reuters]

Hermens, who manages almost all the top Ethiopian runners including multiple world and Olympic 10,000 metres champion Kenenisa Bekele, said Ethiopians had a relaxed style when racing while Kenyans looked tense.

"This is where Bekele beats (Kenya's 2003 world 5,000 metres champion) Eliud Kipchoge, who is equally talented but becomes too serious and stiff on the track," the Dutchman told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"Athletics has become so scientific that athletes beat rivals on such technical issues. A mentally prepared athlete can easily beat a physically prepared one," added Hermens, speaking from Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

Ethiopian men, led by Bekele, swept all the 10,000 metres medals at last year's Olympics in Athens. The nation's women won gold and bronze in 5,000 metres at the Games.

Bekele took the 10,000 metres title at the Helsinki world championships last month while Tirunesh Dibaba won an historic double with gold in the women's 5,000 and 10,000 metres. Ethiopia finished third in the medals table, behind the United States and Russia.

"Ethiopians have more respect for their women, which explains why their women athletes perform better than their Kenyan counterparts, who excel in junior championships only to pander to cultural and domestic demands later in life," Hermens said.

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