Bekele has nothing to prove in London

SHANGHAI  Kenenisa Bekele feels he has nothing left to prove after a spectacular running career but still fully intends to defend his Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 metres titles in London later this year.

Friday, May 18, 2012
Kenenisa Bekele (C) smashed Olympic Record in 10K wins the 2nd Gold. Net photo.

SHANGHAI  Kenenisa Bekele feels he has nothing left to prove after a spectacular running career but still fully intends to defend his Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 metres titles in London later this year.The Ethiopian will be gunning for an unprecedented third successive 10,000 metres gold in London in a feat that was beyond middle distance greats Paavo Nurmi, Emile Zatopek, Lasse Viren and Haile Gebrselassie, who all won it twice.Three years of struggling with calf and knee injuries have dented Bekele’s aura of invincibility, however, and in the 5,000 metres at Saturday’s Shanghai Diamond League meeting, qualification for London rather than dominance is on his mind.His first outing on the track this year at the Diamond League opener in Doha last week ended with a disappointing seventh place in the 3,000 metres and he is hoping for better in China."I’m feeling good, I’m trying to reach my best shape, to get get back to my best level like before,” he told Reuters in an interview on Friday."I’m feeling well, I’m feeling happy. I’m healthy. I’m getting better, it was a long time injured and it’s not easy. I’m trying to get back to a good level.”After pulling up injured in the 10,000m at the world championships in Daegu last year - the first time he had lost a race at the distance - Bekele withdrew from the defence of his 5,000m title.Many thought that he would drop the 5,000m in London to focus on a third gold in the longer distance but, despite his poor time in Doha, he said he was still planning to double up.