, with the difference that Kebede and Gharib were swapped (the Ethiopian was 2 ° to 3 ° London in Beijing), while the winner was the same.
Another small difference did the time: they've all gone to London and 3 under 2 hours and 6 minutes, while Wanjiru in Beijing had taken 2:06 '32 "2:07 '16 Gharib and Kebede 2:10 '00" .
Their way run has remained the same: to go at breakneck speed, and hope not to die before arrival. Because the speed with which they run there is no escape, losing means losing a few feet of wire throughout the race and arrive minutes late.
quite different from what they said Gelindo Bordin, Olympic champion in Seoul in 1988, and Stefano Baldini, Olympic champion in Athens 2004, on listening to their feelings, maybe let him vent on his opponents at the beginning and then retrieve them inexorably towards the end . Such a thing could Bordin in Boston in 1990, and then disconnected in solitary triumph.
But with that kind of run, reasoned, the time that they are 2 hours and 8 minutes, 2 hours and 10. Unrealistic to expect that these new Africans 2 hours and 5 or less.
Even if, in fact, both the new 36-year old Gharib is not, being born (source Wikipedia) in 1972 and has behind the two gold medals won at the World Championships in Paris 2003 and Helsinki 2005.
His racing career has developed in the traditional form, with activity mainly carried out on the track up to 30 years of age and then move to longer distances by road in maturity.
But the other two are boys. Kebede was born in 1987 but in 2008 he ran three marathons, winning in Paris and Fukuoka, in addition to the previously mentioned Olympic bronze.
Wanjiru (says Wikipedia) is the 1986 but already holds world records in the 15 km of 20 km and half marathon. To Beijing in 2008 was his 3rd marathon in his career, and he ended with the Olympic record, that of London in 2009 was his 4th marathon, ended with the 3rd victory in a career that has never gone beyond the 2nd place (London, 2008) and has never been slower than 2:06 '39 "(2007 in Fukuoka, where he started).
In practice, these guys have pushed the limits of excellence at an average travel under 3 minutes per mile, that seemed impossible a few years ago.
at certain speeds changes everything in the way of understanding the athletic, if only for the reason that serve muscles in the legs to push each stride, and then a physical lightweight and thin that it is no longer required.
Even visually, there have been changes. The marathon rather than a drag race held by many Emil Zatopek caracollanti and apparently at the limit of their capacity, as used in the '50s or even in the '80s, now seems like a loose ride from middle-distance runner.
is all the more impressive.
04/05/2009 11th Marathon of Flowers 
05/04/2009 9 ^ SanPancrazioInCorsa 