After crossing the finish line in the unseasonable heat of the Saint-Galmier Hippodrome 20 years ago today Kenenisa Bekele was unable to hold back the tears as he reached the shade of the grandstand on the horse racing track in south-eastern France They did not spring from the joy of having just won a seventh successive senior world cross country title a hard-earned victory in the men’s 4.2km short race on the opening day of the 2005 edition of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships “She’s in my heart,” the disconsolate Ethiopian said The memory of Alem Techale had been with Bekele in the indoor arenas of Boston and Birmingham in the preceding two months when he was a forlorn shadow of the runner whom even the world record book had been unable to contain in 2004 That was the year in which he succeeded Haile Gebrselassie as the fastest 5000m and 10,000m runner of all time Bekele miscounted the laps and sprinted for the line when he still had a circuit to complete He was overtaken and beaten by Alastair Cragg of Ireland He was a similarly befuddled figure in a two-mile race in Birmingham on 19 February trudging across the line behind his fellow Ethiopian Markos Geneti with his head bowed “It is difficult for me to think about running,” Bekele said fighting back the tears when trackside in the English West Midlands “I can only think about my girlfriend.” was with him too when he somehow rediscovered his winning touch midway through the short course race in the scorching French sunshine Kenenisa Bekele celebrates his short course victory in Saint-Galmier (© Getty Images) It had been just over two months since the fateful day that Techale collapsed while on a morning training run with Bekele in the Ararat Hills on the outskirts of Addis Ababa Bekele managed to carry her to his truck but she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital An autopsy determined that she had suffered a heart attack She won the girls’ 1500m at the 2003 World U18 Championships in Sherbrooke where Usain Bolt claimed his first international title in the boys’ 200m he had spent more time at Techale’s graveside than in training before deciding to press ahead with the planned defence of his long and short course world cross country titles in Saint-Galmier A double winner at the previous three championships (in Dublin in 2002 the diminutive Ethiopian set out with intent etched upon his face but found himself trailing by some 30 metres when Saif Saaeed Shaheen launched a long-range attack entering the second of the two laps On a dirt track circuit peppered with logs some cluttered together at eight-metre intervals (“a serpentine as The New York Times vividly described it) the Qatari holder of the 3000m steeplechase world record had reason to feel in his element Shaheen felt the heat of Bekele’s blistering counter-attack Bekele summoned the energy to close the gap five seconds clear of Kenya’s Abraham Chebii “It was not quite Bekele at his relentless but it would well prove to be the defining moment of his running career,” The Independent on Sunday ventured "It’s greater than my Olympic victory in Athens," Bekele reflected later "It’s more significant because of what has happened but grief of this level is something you encounter only rarely I have grief in my heart and I have joy.” If Bekele’s short course victory had been a triumph of the human spirit then the successful defence of his long course crown 24 hours later suspended belief even further With fresh men and fresh legs to challenge him in the punishing 12km event it was surely unreasonable to expect a double title for a fourth consecutive year the young Ethiopian prince of distance running has always possessed the power to push beyond perceived boundaries Kenenisa Bekele on his way to long course victory in Saint-Galmier (© Getty Images) Eliud Kipchoge – winner of the world 5000m title ahead of Hicham El Guerrouj and Bekele in Paris in 2003 and Olympic bronze medallist at the distance in Athens in 2004 behind El Guerrouj and Bekele – pushed the pace from the off Bekele made his move and was 10 metres clear within the blink of an eye Attempting to counter the devastating turn of speed took its toll on Kipchoge Bekele’s winning margin was 14 seconds Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea coming through for second place with Qatari Ahmad Hassan Abdullah in third “Running neck and neck with Kipchoge was a very difficult part of the race but I believed my finish would be strong enough to win,” Bekele reflected “These victories are more significant in my eyes than my previous ones because in the past I had my fiancée with me Bekele would go on to complete another world cross double in Fukuoka in 2006 and win a sixth long course title in Glasgow in 2008 making it a staggering record of 11 senior individual gold medals He also racked up four world titles at 10,000m and one at 5000m plus two Olympic crowns at 10,000m and one at 5000m he stands third on the world all-time list over 26.2 miles and lines up in the London Marathon on 27 April looking for a top two placing for the second successive edition the only double winner in Saint-Galmier two decades ago Two years after becoming the youngest ever winner of the world 5000m title on the track in Paris Tirunesh Dibaba returned to French soil to claim the world cross country senior women’s long course title while still a teenager.  Tirunesh Dibaba (left) on her way to long course victory in Saint-Galmier (© Getty Images) the 19-year-old Ethiopian followed her cousin Deratu Tulu and went one better than her elder sister Ejegayehu who had to settle for silver behind Benita Johnson in the rain and mud of Brussels in 2004 Two months on from a world indoor 5000m record run in Boston the ‘baby-faced assassin’ lived up to her sobriquet in the 8km race Unleashing a killer kick 400 metres from home Kenya’s Alice Timbilil edging Werknesh Kidane for second place In the 4.2km short course event a day later she kicked away from her Ethiopian teammate Kidane to win by a second Tirunesh Dibaba wins the short course race in Saint-Galmier (© Getty Images) As well as matching Bekele in Saint-Galmier the devastating Dibaba followed Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan as only the second woman to achieve a world cross country double “It’s a dream come true,” she said Simon Turnbull for World Athletics Heritage Matthieu Abrivard teamed his trained and owned Iguski Sautonne (6m Village Mystic-Sara Sautonne) to victory in the 11th leg of the Grand National du Trot (Gr Race time was 1.13.9kr over the rainy racetrack as the winner record his 15th victory in 45 starts for 337,040€ Implora Mauzon (6f Django Riff-Adeline Mauzon) was second driven by Jean Philippe Ducher Third was 85/1 odds Femto de Vauvert (9g Rockfeller Center) with Bertrand Ruet driving for Remi Mounlon who trains for Marc Mathevet Gino Viva was fourth at 27/1 with Theo Briand up and 24/1 odds Gybor Well finished fifth with Jean Etienne Abrivard up For the race replay, click here The GNT series point leaders are now Igrec de Celland with 61; Ibiki de Houelle with 53’ Horchestro and Hold Up Du Digeon with 28 each and Iguski Sautonne and Hyumne du Gers each have 26 points by Thomas H. Hicks Harnesslink.com is the only harness racing website dedicated to covering news and events in the Standardbred Industry world-wide © 2024 Harnesslink | All Rights Reserved | NV © 2024 Harnesslink | All Rights Reserved | NV Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Here's why your bottle of water can make or break your dining experience What the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors Saw in 2025 Whether it’s your first time in a fine dining restaurant or your fiftieth these tips from our seasoned MICHELIN Guide Inspectors will help you get it right — your way When you want to dress up and enjoy a night out on the town Croatian cuisine boasts a strong identity that reflects both the land and the sea Marseille is a crossroads of culture and cuisine shaped by 2,600 years of migration and maritime trade From its Greek founders to waves of immigrants from Italy each community has left an indelible mark on the city’s dynamic food culture Explore the just-revealed full list of 654 MICHELIN-Star restaurants in France 2025 The 68 new Stars for the 2025 edition appear in red the latest edition of The MICHELIN Guide France celebrates two new Three-Star restaurants Explore the just-revealed full list of MICHELIN-Star restaurants in Paris 2025 Discover the best of the 2025 Paris restaurant scene and a whole host of new MICHELIN-Star restaurants A MICHELIN Inspector reports back on his personal experience at Le Coquillage in northern Brittany where Chef Hugo Roellinger has clinched Three Stars in the 2025 selection An Inspector shares her first-hand experience of dining at Christopher Coutanceau's eponymous La Rochelle restaurant which has been awarded Three Stars in The MICHELIN Guide France 2025 Enjoy 10 days dedicated to exploring all the riches of Moselle; with castles this region at the crossroads of Europe is a treasure trove of unexpected wonders ​​From chic new hot spots to iconic favorites discover the must-visit restaurants and hotels that capture the spirit of each fashion capital this season often hailed as one of Paris' trendiest neighborhoods actually remains deeply rooted in its heritage This eclectic pocket of the city blends a rich history Its unpolished streets are alive with authentic global flavors making Belleville a must-visit destination for food-lovers Delve into some of the world's most magical winter wonderlands with the help of exceptional hotels and Three Star cuisine the area around the iconic cathedral is set to draw more crowds than ever While it's often dismissed as an area full of tourist traps the neighborhood actually boasts one of the highest concentrations of MICHELIN Guide-vetted restaurants along with its rich history and spectacular hotels Pigalle has transformed into one of Paris’ most sought-after neighborhoods Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels Sign in/UpRegister nowWhy RegisterWORLD ATHLETICS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPSSAINT-GALMIER the leaf blower war or the anti-'woke' backlash World Subscribers only Germany's Friedrich Merz is embracing pragmatism World Subscribers only Trump-Carney meeting: Canada seeks reconciliation World Subscribers only Friedrich Merz bets on two private sector converts to revive the German economy and reform the state World Subscribers only Founder of Sant'Egidio community fears next pope could undo Francis's legacy Opinion Subscribers only 'Russian gas and Europe is an old story that ended badly Economy Subscribers only Europe's steel industry flattened by crisis World Subscribers only How European countries plan to fund defense efforts France Subscribers only Macron announces citizens' convention on school schedules France Subscribers only 21 charged over French prison attacks as investigation narrows in on drug traffickers France Subscribers only French mosque stabber was driven by 'morbid fascination,' prosecutor says France Subscribers only At the trial of Kim Kardashian's robbers Videos World expos: From Paris 1855 to Osaka 2025 Videos How the Trump administration is attacking scientific research in the US Videos Tesla cars set on fire in Las Vegas as calls to boycott Musk's company grow worldwide Videos Can France's nuclear deterrent protect Europe Opinion Subscribers only 'The American dream is dying' Opinion Subscribers only John Bolton: 'The term chaos is commonly used to describe the top of the Defense Department' Opinion Subscribers only 'It is pointless to imagine a significant wave of American academics leaving' Magazine Subscribers only Tracking down the pianos taken from French Jews during the Nazi Occupation Magazine Subscribers only Eve Rodsky the American helping couples balance the mental load Magazine Subscribers only Desecration or more glory Joan Didion's private diaries are revealed Magazine Subscribers only For Jewish cartoonist Joann Sfar 2025."> Pixels Subscribers only Golden Owl solution is revealed but leaves players of 31-year hunt disappointed Pixels Subscribers only Secrets of decades-long Golden Owl treasure hunt to be revealed Lifestyle Inside Chanel's French leather workshops Culture Subscribers only The marvelous bronzes of Angkor on display at the Musée Guimet in Paris 2 min read Lire en français player to watch: Everything you need to know about the Australian squad at the Rugby World Cup September 9: Australia - Georgia at the Stade de France September 17: Australia - Fiji at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium September 24: Wales - Australia at Groupama Stadium October 1: Australia - Portugal at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium Find all of Australia's results here These small kangaroos are very common on the Australian continent The word comes from "walabi," the name given to these marsupials in the Darug Aboriginal language spoken by the first inhabitants of the Sydney area wallabies are known for their ability to jump high Australia is one of four countries to have won the Webb Ellis Cup The Wallabies have also reached the finals twice Their 35-12 victory over France in 1999 represents the greatest points difference ever achieved in a World Cup final While Les Bleus were recovering from their hard-fought victory over the All Blacks in the semi-finals they were unable to repeat the feat against the Australians in Cardiff After being ousted as England coach last winter Eddie Jones took over the reins of a ghostly national team the Wallabies suffered a series of resounding defeats Australia won just two of their five matches The 28-27 defeat against Italy was the final straw the Wallabies were crushed by two superb tries from Toulouse's Ange Capuozzo the country nonetheless benefited from a favorable draw The Australians should qualify for the quarter-finals without too much difficulty not yet fully recovered from an Achilles tendon injury Carter Gordon is the only recognized fly-half in the Australian squad This is a major responsibility for the 22-year-old Melbourne Rebels player who has just a handful of caps to his name immediately recognizable by his blond mane He looks capable of revitalizing the Australian game but his lack of international experience could be a drawback The Australians have chosen the Loire region more specifically Andrézieux-Bouthéon and Saint-Galmier not least because of its proximity to Saint-Etienne The team will be staying at La Charpinière in Saint-Galmier and will train at the Roger-Baudras stadium in Andrézieux-Bouthéon The team's strength lies in the second row The Australian team's second row has a Top 14 flavor as Rob Simmons (102 caps) has just signed for ASM Clermont Auvergne is in charge of the Australian team's scrums Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez mais en les utilisant à des moments différents Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article merci de contacter notre service commercial Sign in/UpRegister nowWhy RegisterWORLD ATHLETICS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPSSAINT-GALMIER Bekele leads the pack on the first circuit in the short race (© Getty Images) Gelete Burka (667) leads the women's junior race (© Getty Images) Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) at the IAAF Press Conference (© Getty Images) Kenenisa Bekele shows off his four gold medal haul (© Getty Images) France (© Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) Australia debuted at the World Cross Country championships in 1975 the third edition of the championships under the auspices of the International Amateur Athletics Association (IAAF) The IAAF – now World Athletics – took over the International Cross Country Union championships which were first contested in 1903 by the four home countries of the United Kingdom going ‘international’ with the addition of France in 1907 and other European countries through the 1920s Tunisia’s entry in 1958 brought African participation The USA and New Zealand followed in the 1960s An unofficial women’s Championship was introduced in 1931 but women were not given full recognition until almost 40 years later in 1967 the men’s event in Tunis and the women’s in Blackburn the women’s Championships split largely between those who wanted to stay with the shorter distance and those who believed women capable of competing at longer distances A 3km women’s event was held at the same venue as the men – Vichy in France – and a 4km race in Frederick Sticking with the official/unofficial distinction the Maryland women’s race saw Australia’s first participation at what is now the World Cross Country Championships A team of three was selected – Rome 1960 Olympic 800 metres silver medallist Brenda Jones marathon pioneer Adrienne Beames and winner of the 1969 women’s national title Raie Thomson of South Australia Another Australian – a Tasmanian Rhodes Scholar Alfred Clemes who ran for England’s winning team in 1911 – is the only other known Australian participant in the ICCU Championships That’s the ancient history covered off: Australia’s modern history at the World Cross Country Championships began when eight men and five women competed in the 1975 Championships at the Hippodrome Rabat-Souissi in Rabat Bill Scott was the first Australian home in the men’s race coming in twenty-second; Lynne Williams led the women in fourth-fourth place Both teams placed eleventh as New Zealand showed their trans-Tasman neighbours what could be done by winning the men’s teams race and finishing second in the women’s in Australia’s 38-year history at the World Cross Country just seven athletes have attained a top-10 placing (though four of those seven have done it on multiple occasions) the World Cross Country has been regarded as the toughest race in the world through most of its history and even now still brings together runners from middle-distance to the marathon recent events have been dominated by East African athletes Australia’s magnificent seven follow in chronological order but there is no doubt which athlete ranks as our finest at world cross-country and the leading finisher in our only two medal-winning teams Her record is enhanced by the fact she competed in the short era when there were separate short and long-course races but in eight appearances she ran nine races and finished in the top 10 in seven The first Australian to break into the top-10 was Robert de Castella There was something of the bizarre in this race as the entire Ethiopian team sprinted to the ‘finish’ line a lap too early but de Castella backed up his first top-10 with two more he was tenth in Rome and then in Gateshead in 1983 he finished sixth again following up with a win in the prestigious Cinque Mulini cross-country in Italy and against Carlos Lopes and Alberto Salazar in the Rotterdam marathon A few months later he won the marathon at the first world championships in Helsinki The women’s race on Warsaw’s Sluzewiec Racecourse was a who’s who of stars – two-time winner Zola Budd Twenty-year-old Stanton raced with the leaders from the start and was rewarded with eighth place No Australian had finished higher than de Castella’s sixth until Jackie Perkins glided over the Stavanger mud to fifth place behind two-time winner Sergent Olympic bronze medallist Lynne Williams and Jane Ngotho she was Australia’s highest individual finisher until Steve Moneghetti came through the 200-strong men’s field and the sea of mud to finish fourth Monner was a repeat top-10 finisher with a sixth in Boston three years later when falling snow was added to the mix along with mud fourth and fifth in the short race at world cross-country before trying her hand at the longer 8km distance in Brussels in 2004 running away from her African rivals over the closing stages to Australia’s one ‘B’ added a fourth and seventh to her long-race record and another fourth in the short-course before she was done Collis Birmingham made fans ponder that question once more as he made like a reindeer through the snow in Bydgoszcz’s Myslecinek Park to eighth place in 2013 capping a world cross-country journey which started with the junior men’s race in 2003 Craig Mottram moved gradually from the short-course to the long-course race He was a fixture in the short-course top-10 finishing eighth through the mud in Ostend in 2001 (Kenenisa Bekele second) then fifth in Dublin in 2002 and ninth in 2004 before his career-best thirteenth in the 2004 long-race others who have one of multiple top-20 long-race finishes include Steve Austin (15/1977) Lisa Weightman (17/2009) and Patrick Tiernan (13/2017)