Long-distance rivalry continues

8220;I wanted the world to know that my country, Ethiopia, has always won with determination and heroism,8221; explained Bikila about why he had not worn shoes. This was the typical attitude of the Ethiopians who come from a more disciplined and regimented regime than the Kenyans, who straddle the other side of the Rift Valley and have more or less lived under a democracy.

An Olympic medal these days increases an athlete8217;s value immeasurably on the international circuit 8212; they can earn up to a million dollars a year 8212; whereas when Kenya dominated in the 1970s through the likes of Kip Keino and Henry Rono, it really was the glory that they ran for.

For Ethiopia, led by Haile 8216;the little Emperor8217; Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele, their re-emergence as the dominant force in distance races, where they have stripped the Kenyans of everything including in 2004 their title of cross country kings after an 18-year reign, has been timely financially.

Richard Nerurkar, former leading British marathon runner and who has worked extensively in Kenya and then Ethiopia, says the Ethiopian athletes are more driven these days than their Kenyan counterparts for a simple social reason. 8220;In Ethiopia, athletics is the main sport apart from football,8221; he said. 8220;Very little happens there. Kenya is a much more advanced society where there are many more things to do.8221;