Taoufik Makhloufi. Photo / Mark Mitchell
It's turning into the Curious Case of Taoufik Makhloufi.
The Algerian runner obliterated his opposition in the 1500m, winning, it seemed, against the best collection of milers in the world without breaking sweat. Yet in the call room barely five minutes before he entered the stadium, he was frantically seeking
medical attention.
"I don't know what was going on with Makhloufi," Willis said.
In an ironic twist, Makhloufi was only reinstated to the field yesterday after initially being ejected from the Olympic Games by the IAAF for not trying in the 800m. He cited an injury.
"Five minutes before we got into the stadium he gets the medical staff to tape him all up. Running that fast with an injury is pretty impressive," Willis said with a straight face.
