As what happened to Paula Radcliffe demonstrated, being the fastest marathon runner in history is no guarantee of success when it comes to the Olympics.
Paul Tergat, the men's world record holder, watched Radcliffe's race last weekend on TV at home in Kenya and noted the brutal conditions that led to her imploding.
'It was like running on fire,' said Tergat. 'The tarmac tends to release heat absorbed during the day. In such conditions, a runner tends to lose a lot of water.'
The men's race will take place at 6pm, the same time as Radcliffe's race. A gold medal here would validate the greatness of the 35-year-old Tergat. He has twice won Olympic silver medals, being beaten in the 10,000 metres on each occasion by Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie.
Tergat missed the London Marathon in April due to a calf injury but has been preparing well since. 'I don't feel any pressure at all,' he said. 'I am not the target anyway. The target is the medals on offer.'
Tergat is part of a strong Kenyan team, including two-time Olympic silver medallist Eric Wainaina. The biggest threat to Tergat will probably be the Ethiopians Hailu Negussie, Tereje Wodajo and Ambesse Tolosa. Reigning champion Gezahegne Abera was forced to withdraw due to injury, as was Tergat's compatriot Sammy Korir, who was just a second behind when he set his world record of 2 hours 4min 55sec in Berlin last September. 'Kenyans should train extra hard because the Ethiopians are doing the same,' said Tergat. 'It won't be easy and we just have to train very hard. I personally am not worried about them. In fact, they should be worried about me.
'For the Kenyans to succeed, they have to keep pace with the Ethiopians throughout the race and be ready for the sprint. I have raced with them many times and the secret of beating them is very good preparation and the readiness to sprint.'
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