Most of the followers of distance running are delighted to hear that Rashid Ramzi finally got busted. That said, we don't want to spend any single more word about him but rather focus today on the real Olympic champion, Asbel Kiprop.
In Beijing the then only 19-year old Kiprop was not able to show his trademark finger pointing to the sky during the finals but we clearly imagine him walking through his hometown close to Eldoret today with a big smile and the right index finger tingling in the air.
The lanky 1.88, 62kg Asbel (="born in the rain season") was selected to join the Kip Keino High Performance Training Centre in Eldoret in October 2006. He never really liked CC but had to do it as every Kenyan, even if it would be just seen as preparation for track. During the 2007 Worlds in Osaka he made the 1,500m finals but his sheer speed did not compensate for a certain lack of experience. He finished 4th.
Clearly his sole focus in 08 were the Olympics. Today we know that neither being dismissed from the Training Center for showing up there with the missus (why would you put such strings on a young guy - you gotta keep them happy, right?) nor a drug cheat ultimately could keep Kiprop from becoming Olympic champion.
Asbel, this is your day. Throw a big party in Eldoret and do not forget to invite the guys from the Training Centre!
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