Mottram not so hot, says rival
SBS - World News Australia, Australia - August 23, 2007
Ethiopian distance king Kenenisa Bekele has taken a swipe at rival Australian champion Craig Mottram, saying he is not as strong as people make out.
His comments reveal Bekele is still rankled by his Australian challenger beating him over 5,000 metres at the World Cup final in Athens's Olympic Stadium in March.
Bekele had been expected to sprint clear from the field but instead it was Mottram who produced the rapid finish.
The Ethiopian bounced back to beat Mottram over 3,000m at the British Grand Prix in Sheffield, northern England, in July.
"Everyone talked about him. Everyone referred to the defeat in Athens as a major event and he was given a lot of publicity as the man to have beaten Kenenisa," Bekele said on the eve of the world championships here.
"I ran in Sheffield specifically to test myself against Mottram. I found out that there really was never a competition between us.
"The only reason he beat me in Athens was because I was jetlagged, tired, and had run too much in the season" ...