Greene likely to hold on to ‘world’s fastest’ tag

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Sydney: American Maurice Greene is the favourite to hold on to the tag of the world's fastest human at the Sydney Olympics but he will face a serious challenge from Michael Johnson for the top of the bill in the men's athletics.

World record holder Greene has been in a class of his own for much of the season and, barring injury or calamity, the 26-year-old should pick up his first Olympic 100 metres title on the second day of the programme on Saturday.

Johnson, however, upstaged the 100 metres event at the 1996 Atlanta Games with an historic 200-400 double, during which he took an astonishing 0.34 seconds off the 200 metres world record to time a breathtaking 19.32.

The Sydney Games were deprived of a fascinating Greene-Johnson showdown over 200 metres when both failed to make the US team after pulling up with leg injuries in the national trials.

But the 33-year-old Johnson, who runs with the unusual, upright style of a fleeing cartoon character, is looking to make more history in Sydney by becoming the first man to retain the Olympic 400 title.

He believes he could even break his own world record of 43.18 seconds, set at last year's world championships in Seville. "If the weather co-operates, the opportunity may be here to break 43 seconds," Johnson said. "I think I am capable of doing it...I'm running out of time."

The men's 400 metres final takes place on Monday so Greene, first on stage, will have time to enjoy the spotlight for two days, especially if he beats his own world record of 9.79 seconds set last year in Athens.

Some have suggested that possible cool and breezy weather in Sydney might upset the US sprinters who relish hot, still conditions. But Greene ignored similar conditions to clock 9.86 seconds, the fastest time of the year, in his last major outing on September 1 in Berlin.

Canada's reigning Olympic champion Donovan Bailey is a flu victim and a possible absentee but even if he recovers, his form has dipped significantly recently following injury.

Greene said, "My biggest threat is myself, me messing up. I believe everything has been going according to plan and I'm just here to put on a great show."

Surprises in men's athletics

There are usually surprises in the men's athletics events but the Sydney Games appears to be short of the fascinating duels that have characterised previous Olympics, such as Ben Johnson versus Carl Lewis in the 100 metres in 1988 or Steve Ovett versus Seb Coe in the middle-distances in 1980.

Morocco's world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj has been showing the kind of form that makes him look unbeatable in the 1,500 metres. El Guerrouj's hopes of winning the title in Atlanta ended after a fall with one lap remaining. He finished 12th.

Denmark's 800 metres runner Wilson Kipketer missed the Atlanta Games because he was not given permission by Kenya, the place of his birth, to compete for his adopted country but he should stamp his authority on the two-lap race this time.

Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie, despite recent Achilles tendon problems, is favourite to defend his 10,000 metres title and enhance his reputation as arguably the greatest of Africa's athletes.



(c) Reuters Limited.