Haile Gebrselassie has paid tribute to Britain's Paula Radcliffe after destroying the world indoor two-mile record.
Gebrselassie, the greatest distance runner of all time, took an incredible five seconds off the four-year-old record at the Norwich Union Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham on Friday night.
And the two-time Olympic 10,000m champion has admitted that Radcliffe is his inspiration.
 Gebrselassie is hunting revenge in 2003 |
"I admire her so much. She is my hero," says Gebrselassie. "I have met her many times, and we talk about running.
"Both of us made the transition from 10,000m to the marathon on the same day, but I could not do it with the same success as Paula.
"She could run close to the world record on her debut. Then, the next time she ran, she got the world record - and it looks like she can go even faster.
"I can only say I am the same as her again when I break a marathon world record."
 I love to run in Birmingham |
Gebrselassie was in devastating form on Friday night, proving that he is back to his best after a difficullt 2002. "The two miles, or 3,000m, is my kind of distance," he said. "It is a race I like to run, and I love to run in Birmingham.
Gebrselassie, who has broken 16 world records in his career, had added support in Birmingham in the shape of 200 members of his personal fanclub.
Alemayehu Dessie, a representative of the Ethiopian community in Britain, laid on free transportation from London for his countrymen.
He said: "It is a great chance to go and support Haile. When he is here with us in Britain, he considers it his second home."
Gebrselassie is a massive hero in his native country and plans to run for president when he retires from athletics.
MMIX
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