Riddell: Moses hurdles age barrier
By Don Riddell, CNN
 |
Story Tools
|
LONDON, England (CNN) -- So, Ed Moses is planning a comeback. The athlete who made a career out of clearing hurdles has found a new barrier he wants to clear -- the ageing process.
The world's greatest-ever 400 meter hurdler chose his 48th birthday to announce that he'd be dusting down his spikes and attempting to qualify for the Athens Olympics.
Sports journalists around the world are rubbing their hands with anticipation. No-one quite knows what to expect.
Will he live up to his biblical name and produce a miracle two years short of his half century? Or will the ensuing train wreck be an embarrassing footnote to a glittering career? Either way, it'll make good copy.
No doubt many sportsmen and women have contemplated the comeback. Fewer have tried it. To test yourself once again, to prove that you are still the greatest can be a risky business when it comes to reputations.
And Moses was immortal. The American dominated his event over a ten year period, winning 122 consecutive races. But if he's to win a third Olympic gold he'll have to beat someone half his age. The favorite, Felix Sanchez wasn't even born when Moses claimed his first Olympic title in Montreal back in 1976.
All or nothing
And if he doesn't think he can do that, then what's the point? Moses claims he can still clock 50.05 seconds -- not bad for a man his age, and therefore an appearance in Athens would still be impressive. But the problem with comebacks is that they have to be all or nothing.
News of his intentions have been met with ridicule. The vice president of the IAAF quipped: "What is he coming back as, a marathon runner?" To many it really does seem like a joke. Why would one of the greatest ever athletes want to tarnish an impeccable reputation?
Most comebacks are financially motivated, but Moses has denied that is the case here. It certainly shouldn't be -- he was the sport's first millionaire. Perhaps the arrogance that comes with the territory has just clouded his better judgement.
As of now, the reputation of Ed Moses still burns bright, it would be a shame if in attempting to fan those flames he put them out altogether.
Don Riddell presents World Sport on CNN International at 0930 GMT, 1130 GMT and 1430 GMT daily.
