Plenty of Olympic Gold Still Up for Grabs in London

The London Summer Olympics will conclude this weekend, but there are still a host of races to be run, including the men’s marathon, which is the final sporting event of the Games.

This year’s race, like the previous two in 2004 and 2008, is expected to be hotly contested between Ethiopian and Kenyan runners. Abel Kirui won Gold at the World Championships last fall, and many are expecting a strong showing from him in the marathon on Sunday.

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Alex Gallafent, who has been reporting from London for The World during the past two weeks of the Games.

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Lisa Mullins: I’m Lisa Mullins and this is The World. The Olympic Games in London are nearing their end. Fewer world records have been broken than in Beijing four years ago but there have been some memorable ones in these games. The World’s Alex Gallafent has been our man in London these past two weeks. Alex, which performances as of now stand out most in your mind?

Alex Gallafent: Well, everyone’s talking about Usain Bolt and he really was incredible yesterday, the first man to have completed the retention of the 100 and 200 meter double sprints. But for me the standout performance on the track by far of these Olympic Games was David Rudisha last night. In the 800 meter final he was the first man ever to break 1 minute and 41 seconds. Think about that. Twice around the track in one minute 40 seconds and change.

Mullins: This is David Rudisha from Kenya?

Gallafent: From Kenya. And he was effortless. In fact he was so fast he took everybody else in the field with him. The guy who came last, a Brit who was in 8th place, his time was so fast it would have won the gold in the previous two Olympic finals and he came last. And the contrast of Bolt is interesting. Rudisha is so quiet, so unassuming, and his performance was just unbelievable.

Mullins: Okay, well we still have a couple more days of Olympic sports and I wonder what you’re going to be looking forward to most.

Gallafent: Well, the final event in the athletics is the mens’ marathon. That’s on Sunday. Tomorrow we’ve got the track relays – both men and women. The United States women take on the French in the final of the basketball and the mens’ finals are on Sunday. But you know there’s loads more. There’s only a couple more days but there are loads of medals still up for grabs.

Mullins: And then, Alex, at the end of it all we’re expecting Sunday’s closing ceremony. Know anything yet about what we’re going to be seeing as kind of the bookend to the games?

Gallafent: We know that the shows called ‘A Symphony of British Music’ so I’d like to think that we’ll be treated to an evening of what by great British composers from Elgar, Benjamin Briton, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Peter Warlock, but I rather suspect it will be the Spice Girls. We’ll also no doubt get a taste of what Rio de Janerio has in store for 2016 when they host the games. Brazil will no doubt put on a small show at the end of the closing ceremony or near the end. I just really hope it’s not just samba. Surely they and we can come up with something a bit more original than the tagline The Samba Olympics. We’ve got four years. Let’s get thinking.

Mullins: So I wonder now as these games come to a close, Alex, what Londoners are going to do with themselves for a few weeks, at least when both the Olympic and then the ParaOlympic Games are over.

Gallafent: It really isn’t going to be easy. I think everyone here is still a little bit surprised by how much fun it’s been and how happy they’ve been during these games. There are a number of plans to keep the sporting spirit going though. Today London announced plans for a giant weekend of cycling next year. There will be a big ride that uses much of the route taken by the Olympic road race during these games. So while the Olympics will be going to Brazil, Britain’s it’s hoped will be at least getting on their bikes.

Mullins: Okay. Alex, great to have had your perspective throughout these games. Now get out there and start training for real.

Gallafent: I’ll swim my way back home.

Mullins: Thanks. The World’s Alex Gallafent in London. Thanks again.

Gallafent: Thank you.

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Don’t forget — we’ve got some poetic odes to the Games you can listen to as well.