Eritrea's long-distance runner Zersenay Tadesse and his fellow runner Efraim Ogbegbral run past a cactus plant during a training session in the capital Asmara, May 21, 2009. Tadese was such an innocent at his maiden international competition that he missed the starting pistol. He went on to take gold in the same competition five years later, in Kenya, in a career that has won him the love of a nation and let Eritrea hold its head high next to more illustrious east African running powers Kenya and Ethiopia. Picture taken May 21, 2009. To match feature ATHLETICS/ERITREA REUTERS/Robert Waweru (ERITREA SPORT ATHLETICS) 

Eritrea's long-distance runner Zersenay Tadesse trains with his fellow runner Efraim Ogbegbral in the capital Asmara, May 21, 2009. Tadese was such an innocent at his maiden international competition that he missed the starting pistol. He went on to take gold in the same competition five years later, in Kenya, in a career that has won him the love of a nation and let Eritrea hold its head high next to more illustrious east African running powers Kenya and Ethiopia. Picture taken May 21, 2009. To match feature ATHLETICS/ERITREA REUTERS/Andrew Cawthorne (ERITREA SPORT ATHLETICS) 

Eritrea's long-distance runner Zersenay Tadesse stretches after his training session in the capital Asmara, May 21, 2009. Tadese was such an innocent at his maiden international competition that he missed the starting pistol. He went on to take gold in the same competition five years later, in Kenya, in a career that has won him the love of a nation and let Eritrea hold its head high next to more illustrious east African running powers Kenya and Ethiopia. Picture taken May 21, 2009. To match feature ATHLETICS/ERITREA REUTERS/Andrew Cawthorne (ERITREA SPORT ATHLETICS) 

Moses Kipsiro of Uganda holds his trophy after winning the Italica cross-country race in Santiponce, southern Spain January 20, 2008. Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea was second and Leonard Komon of Kenya third. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo (SPAIN) 

Moses Kipsiro (L) of Uganda and Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea sprint for the finish line during the Italica cross-country race in Santiponce, southern Spain January 20, 2008. Kipsiro won the race, Tadesse was second and Leonard Komon of Kenya third. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo (SPAIN) 

Moses Kipsiro (C) of Uganda, Zersenay Tadesse (L) of Eritrea and Leonard Komon of Kenya hold their trophies after the Italica cross-country race in Santiponce, southern Spain January 20, 2008. Kipsiro won the race, Tadesse was second and Komon third. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo (SPAIN) 

Moses Kipsiro (2nd L) of Uganda competes next to Zersenay Tadesse (L) of Eritrea during the Italica cross-country race in Santiponce, southern Spain January 20, 2008. Kipsiro won the race, Tadesse was second and Leonard Komon of Kenya third. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo (SPAIN) 

Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea (L) competes with Tola Tadesse of Ethiopia in the men's 10,000m race at the All African Games in Algiers July 19, 2007. REUTERS/Louafi Larbi (ALGERIA) 

Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea (front ) celebrates after the men's 10,000m race at the All African Games in Algiers July 19, 2007. REUTERS/Louafi Larbi (ALGERIA) 

Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea (front ) competes in the men's 10,000m race at the All African Games in Algiers July 19, 2007. REUTERS/Louafi Larbi (ALGERIA) 

Zersenay Tadesse (L) from Eritrea runs ahead of Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele during the 12km senior men's race at the 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, 500 km (311 miles) from Kenya's capital Nairobi, March 24, 2007. Tadese won the event. REUTERS/Antony Njuguna (KENYA) 

Zersenay Tadesse from Eritrea sprints to win the 12 km senior men's race at the 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, 500 km (311 miles) from Kenya's capital Nairobi, March 24, 2007. REUTERS/Antony Njuguna (KENYA) 

Zersenay Tadesse (L) from Eritrea runs ahead of Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele during the 12km senior men's race at the 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, 500 km (311 miles) from Kenya's capital Nairobi, March 24, 2007. Tadese won the event. REUTERS/Antony Njuguna (KENYA) 

Tadesse Zersenay of Eritrea bites his gold medal after winning the 1st IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, 240 km (150 miles) east from Budapest, October 8, 2006. REUTERS/Karoly Arvai (HUNGARY) 

Tadesse Zersenay of Eritrea celebrates his victory at the 1st IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, 240 km (150 miles) east from Budapest, October 8, 2006. REUTERS/Karoly Arvai (HUNGARY) 

Tadesse Zersenay of Eritrea celebrates his victory at the 1st IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, 240 km (150 miles) east from Budapest, October 8, 2006. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh (HUNGARY) 

Tadesse Zersenay of Eritrea runs on his way to win the 1st IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, 240 km (150 miles) east from Budapest, October 8, 2006. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh (HUNGARY) 

Tadesse Zersenay of Eritrea celebrates his victory at the 1st IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, 240 km (150 miles) east from Budapest, October 8, 2006. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh (HUNGARY) 

Kenenisa Bekele (C) of Ethiopia runs with Zersenay Tadesse (L) of Eritrea and Mike Kigen (R) of Kenya during the men's 12-kilometre race of the 34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan April 2, 2006. Bekele won the race in 35 minutes 40 seconds. Tadesse placed fourth and Kigen, fifth. REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama 

Kenenisa Bekele (C green singlet) of Ethiopia races with Zersenay Tadesse (L) of Eritrea and Mike Kipruto Kigen (210) of Kenya during the men's 12-kilometre race of the 34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan April 2, 2006. Bekele won the race in 35 minutes 40 seconds. Tadesse placed fourth and Kigen, fifth. REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama 

Kenenisa Bekele (C) of Ethiopia runs with Zersenay Tadesse (L) of Eritrea and Mike Kigen (R) of Kenya during the men's 12-kilometre race of the 34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan April 2, 2006. Bekele won the race in 35 minutes 40 seconds. Tadesse placed fourth and Kigen, fifth. REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama 

(L to R) John Kibowen of Kenya, Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea and Isaac Kiprono Songok of Kenya compete in the men's 5,000 metres first heat at the world athletics championships in Helsinki, Finland August 11, 2005. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn CN/JJ 

Australia's Craig Mottram leads Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea at the back of the field in the men's 5000 meters. Australia's Craig Mottram (R) leads Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea at the back of the field in the men's 5,000 meters at the main Olympic Stadium during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, August 28, 2004. Mottram and Tadesse finished out of the medals as Morroco's El Guerrouj won the gold. REUTERS/Nigel Marple 

Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea finishes third in 10 thousand metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games. Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse celebrates with Eritrea's flag after he finished third in the 10,000 metres at Olympic Stadium in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. [Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele sealed his reputation as both the present and future of long-distance running as he won the Olympic men's 10,000 metres on Friday, finishing in 27 minutes, 5.10 seconds.] 

Ethiopia's Sileshi Sihine, Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games. [Ethiopia's Sileshi Sihine, Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele (L-R) run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes, 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine. Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse finished in third place.] 

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele poses with his medal during the winners ceremony of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games August 21, 2004. [Bekele won yesterday's race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse.] 

Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse, Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele and his compatriot Sileshi Sihine (L-R) pose with their medals during the winners ceremony of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 21, 2004. Bekele won yesterday's race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich MD/DL 

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele hugs his compatriot Sileshi Sihine (R) during the winners ceremony of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 21, 2004. Bekele won yesterday's race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich MD/AA 

Ethiopias Kenenisa Bekele poses with his medal during the winners ceremony of the mens 10000 metres in Athens. Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele poses with his medal during the winners ceremony of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 21, 2004. Bekele won yesterday's race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich 

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele celebrates his gold medal in the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games August 20, 2004. [Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse.] 

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele celebrates his gold medal in the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games August 20, 2004. [Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse.] 

Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse celebrates with Eritrea's flag after he finished third in the 10,000 metres at Olympic Stadium in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele sealed his reputation as both the present and future of long-distance running as he won the Olympic men's 10,000 metres on Friday, finishing in 27 minutes, 5.10 seconds. REUTERS/David Gray JSK/SV 

Ethiopia's Sileshi Sihine and Kenenisa Bekele run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Ethiopia's (L) Sileshi Sihine and compatriot Kenenisa Bekele run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn 

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele and compatriot Sileshi Sihine carry their national flag at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele (L) and compatriot Sileshi Sihine carry their national flag after the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez 

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele celebrates his gold medal in the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez MD/AA 

Ethiopia's Sihine, Gebrselassie and Bekele run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Ethiopia's (L-R) Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele and Sileshi Sihine run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach 

Athletes run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Mike Blake CP/AA 

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele celebrates his gold medal in the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez MD/AA 

Ethiopia's Sihine, Gebrselassie and Bekele embrace after the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Ethiopia's (L-R) Kenenisa Bekele, Haile Gebrselassie and Sileshi Sihine embrace after the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn 

Ethiopia's Sihine, Gebrselassie and Bekele embrace after the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Ethiopia's (L-R) Kenenisa Bekele, Haile Gebrselassie and Sileshi Sihine embrace after the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez 

Ethiopia's Sileshi Sihine, Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Ethiopia's Sileshi Sihine, Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele (L-R) run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes, 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine. Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse finished in third place. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez 

Ethiopia's Sileshi Sihine, Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Ethiopia's (L-R) Sileshi Sihine, Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele run during the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach 

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele celebrates his gold medal in the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds, ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn MD/SV 

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele celebrates his gold medal in the final of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 20, 2004. Bekele won the race in 27 minutes 05.10 seconds ahead of his compatriot Sileshi Sihine and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn MD 

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele (R) and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse start the final race of the men's 10,000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, August 20, 2004. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez MD/DL