A say day for fans of Haile Gebreselassie as he announces his retirement from competition after dropping out in the New York City Marathon yesterday. There was a great prospect that he was in top shape coming into this race after winning the Great North Run in September in Gastehead. He is racing New York City Marathon for the first time after years of competing in the Berlin Marathon, where he set the current world record of 2:03:59 in 2008. The first man to run a sub- 2:04. He has never hinted of retirement and even went on to say that he is looking to compete in the London Olympics just before the race in the Big Apple.
- No retirement talk for Gebreselassie - Universal Sports
"Why should I retire? Why should I say I will retire in three or four years? You retire the very moment you utter those words," Gebrselassie said. "I still think about doing more."
I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the running legend in Berlin this year but he decided that he will not be competing in Berlin this year and opted for the New York Marathon. He only revealed that he had knee problem in the eve of the race. He ran with the leading pack before limping out at the 16-mile mark.
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| Leading runners crossing the Queensboro bridge - Gebreselassie drops out not long after this point Photograph: Andrew Gombert/EPA |
“I never thought about retiring but, for the first time, this is the day,” he told a stunned press conference after the race. “Let me stop and do other work after this. Let me give a chance for the youngsters.”
His retirement announcement shocked the world yesterday with his emotional press conference. Well, he has nothing much to prove really, but wish he could compete and win the London Olympics marathon in 2012.
- Haile Gebreselassie reitres from competition after failing to finish New York Marathon - Telegraph UK
- An emotional Haile Gebreselassie reitres - Telegraph UK (video)
- Wanjiru saddened by Gebreselassie's retirement - Universal Sports
- Steve Cram on Gebreselassie - BBC UK
More on Haile Gebreselassie:
"Farewell to the King of Distance Running"
~ We will Haile miss you! ~
~ We will Haile miss you! ~
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