'I will not complain about rain'

Dubai: Haile Gebrselassie, like a true sportsman, accepted the responsibility of not being able to break his own world record. Although it was rain that thwarted his attempt, he even refused to complain about it.

"I don't like to complain. If I complain about rain it is like complaining to God. So I accept this and will be happy that I did not have to drop out due to this weather," said Gebrselassie.

"In this kind of weather it is easy to get hamstring injury. If I encountered it during the run I may had to drop out. So I don't want to even complain about the weather," he added.

However, Gebrselassie shared his disappointment of not erasing his own record, by saying: "Everybody was expecting me to break the world record here but I am pleased with the time I ran today. This is my best time in this kind of weather. It could have been much worse, but I am really happy with my time." Gebrselassie still recorded the eighth fastest time in the history of marathon.

He even went on to blame himself for thinking that he may not be able to break the record.

"When I saw the clouds ahead I realised it could be difficult for me. Sometimes it is not about defeating time, sometimes you defeat yourself. When I saw the rain coming I defeated myself. But don't worry, I will come again and try for setting a world record here," said.

Gebrselassie was not not disappointed at losing the $1 million bonus for breaking the world record. "If you think about money first, then it is difficult to run. I have lost many millions before by a second. So I am used to it," he said.

Asked about his next plans, Gebrselassie said: "I will now go to Netherland in March and reclaim the half marathon record. I will also go for the 2012 Olympics. There are a lot of events ahead of me."

Gebrselassie thanked not only all the Ethiopians but also all the people of Dubai who cheered for him yesterday.

"I thank everyone who cheered me, challenging the rain. I still have another chance to break my record, so I will come again," he said confidently.