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Last Updated: Monday, 29 September, 2003, 14:35 GMT 15:35 UK
Tergat targets Olympic gold
Kenyan Paul Tergat celebrates his win in Berlin
Kenya's Paul Tergat has set his sights on Olympic gold after smashing the world marathon record in Berlin.

The 34-year-old set a new mark of two hours, four minutes and 55 seconds on Sunday, becoming the first man to break the 2:05 barrier.

Tergat has two Olympic silver medals in the 10,000m and is now determined to go one better over 26 miles.

"It is a big challenge to get a gold medal in the Olympics," said Tergat.

He added: "I've never had a gold medal in the Olympics and have been second in the big events.

"But first I have to be on the Kenyan national team.

The Kenyans finished out of the medals at this year's World Championships in Paris but have a strong group of marathon runners, including world number one Michael Rotich.

Tergat hopes his record-breaking victory in Berlin will go some way to ending his reputation as the "nearly man" of Kenyan athletics.

The 34-year-old has had to settle for the runners-up spot twice in the London Marathon and once in Chicago.

I hope the record will stand for some time
Paul Tergat
"I was second most of the time," he said.

"I really wanted to put this behind me and rise to the occasion.

"For me to think of a world record in the marathon made some people say 'He should win a marathon first'.

"But I had a lot of confidence and I said to myself four months ago I would go for the record in Berlin.

"I hope the record will stand for some time."

Tergat is also considering competing in next April's London marathon before attempting to seize the Olympic title in Athens.




SEE ALSO
Tergat sets marathon record
28 Sep 03  |  Athletics


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