Men's 1500 metres
at the Games of the XXVI Olympiad
Olympic Athletics
VenueCentennial Olympic Stadium
Dates29 July 1996 (heats)
1 August 1996 (semi-finals)
3 August 1996 (final)
Competitors57 from 37 nations
Winning time3:35.78
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Noureddine Morceli
 Algeria
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Fermín Cacho
 Spain
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Stephen Kipkorir
 Kenya

The men's 1500 metres was an event at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. There were 57 competitors from 37 nations. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event took place between 29 July and 3 August.[1] The event was won by Noureddine Morceli of Algeria, the nation's first championship in the men's 1500 metres. Fermín Cacho of Spain was unable to repeat as gold medalist, but took silver to become the fourth man to win two medals in the event.

Summary

Algerian Noureddine Morceli had dominated the 1500 for five years, holding the world record and winning the previous three world championships. But Hicham El Guerrouj, from neighboring Morocco was the rising star, who had chased Morceli in the most recent world championships. This was expected to be the match race. While Morceli had led the semi-finals in close to Olympic record time, the final race was much slower and entirely strategic. Approaching the bell at the end of the third lap, Morceli had moved into the lead with El Guerrouj sprinting up to his shoulder. Morceli held him off with El Guerrouj having to cede position and move in behind Morceli squeezing in front of defending champion, master tactician Fermin Cacho who was perfectly positioned directly behind Morceli. Two strides later El Guerrouj tripped and fell. Morceli took off sprinting at the same moment the rest of the field had to evade El Guerrouj's body on the track. Cacho was forced to leap over the fallen El Guerrouj, almost stepping on him. Next in line Abdi Bile had to jump off the track to the infield. Morceli opened up 2 meters in the process, which he widened to 5 down the backstretch. Cacho and Bile held that gap onto the final straight. Bile faded while Cacho held on until he could see it was futile to catch Morceli, jogging in for silver. Stephen Kipkorir led two other Kenyan teammates around Bile to take bronze. After quickly staggering to his feet, El Guerrouj chased the field but shocked and disheartened, he was unable to catch anybody.

Background

This was the 23rd appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. All three medalists (Fermín Cacho of Spain, Rachid El Basir of Morocco, and Mohamed Suleiman of Qatar) from 1992 returned, along with seventh-place finisher Noureddine Morceli of Algeria and ninth-place finisher Graham Hood of Canada. Morceli had been favored in Barcelona, and was again a favorite in Atlanta; he had won the last three world championships and broken the world record twice. Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco was a rising star expected to challenge Morceli; he had come in second at the 1995 world championships and would go on to win the next four and break the world record himself. Vénuste Niyongabo of Burundi would have been another contender but chose not to enter in order to focus on the 5000 metres.[2]

Burundi, Dominica, the Maldives, the Solomon Islands, and Ukraine each made their first appearance in the event. The United States made its 22nd appearance, most of all nations (having missed only the boycotted 1980 Games).

Competition format

The competition was again three rounds (used previously in 1952 and since 1964). The "fastest loser" system introduced in 1964 was used for both the first round and semifinals. The 12-man semifinals and finals introduced in 1984 and used again in 1992 were used.

There were five heats in the first round, each with 11 or 12 runners. The top four runners in each heat, along with the next four fastest overall, advanced to the semifinals. The 24 semifinalists were divided into two semifinals, each with 12 runners. The top five men in each semifinal, plus the next two fastest overall, advanced to the 12-man final.[2][3]

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1996 Summer Olympics.

World record Noureddine Morceli (ALG)3:27.37 Nice, France12 July 1995
Olympic record Sebastian Coe (GBR)3:32.53 Los Angeles, United States11 August 1984

No new world or Olympic records were set during the competition.

Schedule

All times are Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)

Date Time Round
Monday, 29 July 199610:45Round 1
Wednesday, 31 July 199619:55Semifinals
Saturday, 3 August 199619:50Final

Results

Round 1

Heat 1

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Laban Rotich Kenya 3:35.88Q
2 Marko Koers Netherlands 3:36.18Q
3 Niall Bruton Ireland 3:37.42Q
4 Kevin McKay Great Britain 3:38.02Q
5 Ovidiu Olteanu Romania 3:38.33
6 Vyacheslav Shabunin Russia 3:38.56
7 Edgar de Oliveira Brazil 3:40.70
8 Steve Agar Dominica 3:43.02
9 Brian Hyde United States 3:48.20
10 Andriy Bulkovskiy Ukraine 3:53.30
11 Tawai Keiruan Vanuatu 4:02.78

Heat 2

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Noureddine Morceli Algeria 3:41.95Q
2 John Mayock Great Britain 3:42.31Q
3 Abdi Bile Somalia 3:42.32Q
4 Reyes Estévez Spain 3:42.48Q
5 Rachid El Basir Morocco 3:42.85
6 Julius Achon Uganda 3:43.08
7 Luis Jesus Portugal 3:44.65
8 Joaquim Cruz Brazil 3:45.32
9 João N'tyamba Angola 3:46.41
10 Ali Ibrahim Djibouti 3:46.62
11 Michael Gottschalk Germany 3:56.46

Heat 3

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Ali Hakimi Tunisia 3:36.58Q
2 Stephen Kipkorir Kenya 3:36.70Q
3 Balázs Tölgyesi Hungary 3:36.71Q
4 Driss Maazouzi Morocco 3:37.08Q
5 Shane Healy Ireland 3:37.28q
6 Branko Zorko Croatia 3:37.35q
7 Mohammed Suleiman Qatar 3:37.70q
8 Mickaël Damian France 3:39.21
9 Jason Pyrah United States 3:39.91
10 António Travassos Portugal 3:42.01
11 Martin Johns New Zealand 3:44.91
12 Hussain Riyaz Maldives 4:15.14

Heat 4

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco 3:37.66Q
2 William Tanui Kenya 3:37.72Q
3 Kader Chekhemani France 3:37.81Q
4 Isaac Viciosa Spain 3:37.93Q
5 Luís Feiteira Portugal 3:38.09q
6 Marcus O'Sullivan Ireland 3:38.16
7 Peter Philipp Switzerland 3:41.60
8 Werner Edler-Muhr Austria 3:45.02
9 Alexis Sharangabo Rwanda 3:46.42
10 Ali Mabruk Ezayedi Libya 3:51.49
Graham Hood Canada DNF

Heat 5

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Fermín Cacho Spain 3:39.84Q
2 Paul McMullen United States 3:39.94Q
3 Christophe Impens Belgium 3:40.16Q
4 Anthony Whiteman Great Britain 3:40.74Q
5 Andrey Loginov Russia 3:40.99
6 Dieudonne Kwizera Burundi 3:41.45
7 Ahmed Krama Algeria 3:42.09
8 Bahadur Prasad India 3:46.16
9 Eric Dubus France 3:47.01
10 Thomas Ebner Austria 3:48.38
11 Paul Cleary Australia 3:52.85
12 Selwyn Kole Solomon Islands 4:03.44

Overall results for round 1

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Laban Rotich Kenya 3:35.88Q
2 Marko Koers Netherlands 3:36.18Q
3 Ali Hakimi Tunisia 3:36.58Q
4 Stephen Kipkorir Kenya 3:36.70Q
5 Balázs Tölgyesi Hungary 3:36.71Q
6 Driss Maazouzi Morocco 3:37.08Q
6 Shane Healy Ireland 3:37.28q
8 Branko Zorko Croatia 3:37.35q
9 Niall Bruton Ireland 3:37.42Q
10 Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco 3:37.66Q
11 Mohammed Suleiman Qatar 3:37.70q
12 William Tanui Kenya 3:37.72Q
13 Kader Chekhemani France 3:37.81Q
14 Isaac Viciosa Spain 3:37.93Q
15 Kevin McKay Great Britain 3:38.02Q
16 Luís Feiteira Portugal 3:38.09q
17 Marcus O'Sullivan Ireland 3:38.16
18 Ovidiu Olteanu Romania 3:38.33
19 Vyacheslav Shabunin Russia 3:38.56
20 Mickaël Damian France 3:39.21
21 Fermín Cacho Spain 3:39.84Q
22 Jason Pyrah United States 3:39.91
23 Paul McMullen United States 3:39.94Q
24 Christophe Impens Belgium 3:40.16Q
25 Anthony Whiteman Great Britain 3:40.74Q
26 Peter Philipp Switzerland 3:41.60
27 Noureddine Morceli Algeria 3:41.95Q
28 John Mayock Great Britain 3:42.31Q
29 Abdi Bile Somalia 3:42.32Q
30 Reyes Estévez Spain 3:42.48Q
31 Edgar de Oliveira Brazil 3:40.70
32 Andrey Loginov Russia 3:40.99
33 Dieudonne Kwizera Burundi 3:41.45
34 António Travassos Portugal 3:42.01
35 Ahmed Krama Algeria 3:42.09
36 Rachid El Basir Morocco 3:42.85
37 Steve Agar Dominica 3:43.02
38 Julius Achon Uganda 3:43.08
39 Luis Jesus Portugal 3:44.65
40 Martin Johns New Zealand 3:44.91
41 Werner Edler-Muhr Austria 3:45.02
42 Joaquim Cruz Brazil 3:45.32
43 Bahadur Prasad India 3:46.16
44 João N'tyamba Angola 3:46.41
45 Alexis Sharangabo Rwanda 3:46.42
46 Ali Ibrahim Djibouti 3:46.62
47 Eric Dubus France 3:47.01
48 Brian Hyde United States 3:48.20
49 Thomas Ebner Austria 3:48.38
50 Ali Mabruk Ezayedi Libya 3:51.49
51 Paul Cleary Australia 3:52.85
52 Andriy Bulkovskiy Ukraine 3:53.30
53 Michael Gottschalk Germany 3:56.46
54 Tawai Keiruan Vanuatu 4:02.78
55 Selwyn Kole Solomon Islands 4:03.44
56 Hussain Riyaz Maldives 4:15.14
Graham Hood Canada DNF

Semifinals

Semifinal 1

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Noureddine Morceli Algeria 3:32.88Q
2 Fermín Cacho Spain 3:33.12Q
3 Abdi Bile Somalia 3:33.30Q
4 William Tanui Kenya 3:33.57Q
5 Laban Rotich Kenya 3:33.73Q
6 Driss Maazouzi Morocco 3:34.35q
7 John Mayock Great Britain 3:34.55q
8 Kader Chekhemani France 3:34.84
9 Branko Zorko Croatia 3:35.14
10 Balázs Tölgyesi Hungary 3:35.57
11 Luís Feiteira Portugal 3:40.31
12 Niall Bruton Ireland 3:42.88

Semifinal 2

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco 3:35.29Q
2 Stephen Kipkorir Kenya 3:35.53Q
3 Ali Hakimi Tunisia 3:35.91Q
4 Mohammed Suleiman Qatar 3:36.01Q
5 Marko Koers Netherlands 3:36.06Q
6 Isaac Viciosa Spain 3:36.11
7 Anthony Whiteman Great Britain 3:36.11
8 Christophe Impens Belgium 3:37.64
9 Paul McMullen United States 3:37.81
10 Reyes Estévez Spain 3:39.44
11 Shane Healy Ireland 3:39.81
12 Kevin McKay Great Britain 3:43.61

Overall results for semifinals

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Noureddine Morceli Algeria 3:32.88Q
2 Abdi Bile Somalia 3:33.30Q
3 William Tanui Kenya 3:33.57Q
4 Fermín Cacho Spain 3:33.12Q
5 Laban Rotich Kenya 3:33.73Q
6 Driss Maazouzi Morocco 3:34.35q
7 John Mayock Great Britain 3:34.55q
8 Kader Chekhemani France 3:34.84
9 Branko Zorko Croatia 3:35.14
10 Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco 3:35.29Q
11 Stephen Kipkorir Kenya 3:35.53Q
12 Balázs Tölgyesi Hungary 3:35.57
13 Ali Hakimi Tunisia 3:35.91Q
14 Mohammed Suleiman Qatar 3:36.01Q
15 Marko Koers Netherlands 3:36.06Q
16 Isaac Viciosa Spain 3:36.11
17 Anthony Whiteman Great Britain 3:36.11
18 Christophe Impens Belgium 3:37.64
19 Paul McMullen United States 3:37.81
20 Reyes Estévez Spain 3:39.44
21 Shane Healy Ireland 3:39.81
22 Luís Feiteira Portugal 3:40.31
23 Niall Bruton Ireland 3:42.88
24 Kevin McKay Great Britain 3:43.61

Final

RankAthleteNationTime
1st place, gold medalist(s) Noureddine Morceli Algeria 3:35.78
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Fermín Cacho Spain 3:36.40
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Stephen Kipkorir Kenya 3:36.72
4 Laban Rotich Kenya 3:37.39
5 William Tanui Kenya 3:37.42
6 Abdi Bile Somalia 3:38.03
7 Marko Koers Netherlands 3:38.18
8 Ali Hakimi Tunisia 3:38.19
9 Mohammed Suleiman Qatar 3:38.26
10 Driss Maazouzi Morocco 3:39.65
11 John Mayock Great Britain 3:40.18
12 Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco 3:40.75

See also

References

  1. "Athletics at the 1996 Atlanta Games: Men's 1500 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  2. 1 2 "1500 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  3. Official Report, vol. 3, pp. 76–77.
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