10 great rivalries at Beijing

1) JEREMY WARINER V LASHAWN MERRITT, 400 METRES Olympic and world champion Wariner has dominated the 400 metres since before the 2004 Games. Compatriot Merritt has been in his slipstream throughout and is getting closer. Wariner, who in Athens became the first white man to win a sprint gold since the boycotted 1980 Games, remains favourite to retain his title but things have certainly got closer since Merritt bet him twice earlier in the season. The second of those victories came in the U.S. trials when he said afterwards: "Once I got into the home stretch I was smelling Beijing and victory." Only Michael Johnson, something of a mentor for Wariner, and Butch Reynolds have run faster than Wariner's best time of 43.45. 2) KENENISA BEKELE v HAILE GEBRSELASSIE, 10,000 METRES The winners of the last three Olympic 10,000 metres... [read full story]