There was no consoling El Guerrouj, who had fallen at the bell when just the young pretender at the 1996 Olympic final.

"Four years ago I fell in Atlanta and for four years I kept the photograph of that moment so I could bring it here and tear it up when I won the title," he said tearfully at the time.

"Now I will have to keep it for another four years but I will prevail because I am 'Hicham the Great' and still the best runner in the distance."

There are those, however, that no matter how long they are beaten by an opponent just never give up hope such as the late, top tennis star of the 1970s, Vitas Gerulaitis.

The American with the deep blue eyes and flowing blond hair at last bested Jimmy Connors in the elite Masters series year-ending tournament after 17 successive defeats to him.

Gerulaitis, for whom the word charisma seemed created for, fixed a journalist with a beady stare when asked how he had managed to at last beat Connors.

"Nobody but nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 18 times in a row," came the legendary reply.