(May 29, 2012, Mirror Sport)--Two-time Olympic champion failed to qualify for the Ethiopian team in either the marathon or 10,000m events .Two-time 10,000m Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie spoke of his
"deep" disappointment that he will not compete at the London 2012
Olympics.
With his Ethiopian national side being so strong, just getting a spot
on the team is probably a bigger test than running in the Olympic
final. "It is much harder than that," he said. He feels he could have got a medal at London 2012. Still smiling, despite being upset at failing to qualify for either
the marathon or 10,000m at London 2012, Gebrselassie said: "Inside yes
it is hard, but what can I do?
"I have no other choice. I have to make myself happy in a different way. "I was thinking not just to qualify but also to do something special while I was here (at the Olympics).
"Qualifying alone is not special. You have to do something because just to participate is not enough.
"I was at least thinking I could be top three." Gebrselassie, 39, needed a top-two finish in the 10,000m at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo at the weekend to qualify for this summer's Games.
He finished seventh in a time of 27 minutes 20.39 seconds, nearly nine seconds behind winner and fellow countryman Tariku Bekele. He is expecting Ethiopia and Kenya to be fighting it out for the medals in both the marathon and the 10,000m. Read more from Mirror Sport »
"I have no other choice. I have to make myself happy in a different way. "I was thinking not just to qualify but also to do something special while I was here (at the Olympics).
"Qualifying alone is not special. You have to do something because just to participate is not enough.
"I was at least thinking I could be top three." Gebrselassie, 39, needed a top-two finish in the 10,000m at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo at the weekend to qualify for this summer's Games.
He finished seventh in a time of 27 minutes 20.39 seconds, nearly nine seconds behind winner and fellow countryman Tariku Bekele. He is expecting Ethiopia and Kenya to be fighting it out for the medals in both the marathon and the 10,000m. Read more from Mirror Sport »
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