At just 18 Borzakovskiy stormed into the world's running spotlight by winning the 1998 European Indoor 800m Championship, quite an achievement for a teenager. Less than two years later, as a 19 year old, Borzakovskiy made the Sydney Olympic 800m final, one of the youngest finalists of all time, he finished sixth. In 2001 the flying Russian took his first big title, winning the World Indoor 800m Championship and finishing the year with the fastest time in the world (1:42.47), which set a new Russian record and a European U23 record.

Borzakovskiy's next championship medal was a silver at the 2003 Paris World Championships. 2003 saw him run a total of three sub 1:44.00 races, the most notable of these being a 1:43.94 to win the Gaz de france

Borzakovskiy ensured that his named will be etched into the history books with a stunning come from the clouds victory at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Although not givng the leaders as bigger start as usual, he once again left it until the last 50m to snatch victory in 1:44.45 from South African Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1:44.61) and world-record holder Wilson Kipketer (1:44.65).

2005, 2006 and 2007 resulted in Borzakovskiy taking three minor medals; silver in the 2005 Helsinki World Championships, bronze at the 2006 World Indoor Championships and bronze at the 2007 Osaka World Indoor Championships. During these years he also made sporadic appearances at various meets, one of his favorites being the Athens Tsiklitiria Super Grand Prix which he won in both 2006 (1:43.42) and 2007 (1:44.38).

2008 has been a quiet year thus far with just the occasional appearance including a 1:45 in Stuttgart in Febuary. Borzakovskiy is reported as having spent several weeks at a training camp in Cyprus at up to 6,000 feet above sea level as well as at an altitude training camp in the Caucasus Mountains. On his race agenda leading into Beijing include the Russian Championships in early July, Stockholm on July 22 and Monte Carlo on July 29. He then plans to spend a few weeks training in Irkutsk in eastern Russia before heading to Beijing.

Abubaker Kaki, 1:42.69 (Sudan) : Kaki, the Sudanese teenager is the real thing with some major wins already under his young belt and many calling him the man to beat in Beijing. Some of his accomplishments include a 1:43.90 to win the Pan Arab Games in November 2007, victory at the World Indoor Championships, in Valencia in March (1:44.81), and a stunning victory at the Oslo Bislett Games Golden League on June 5 this year, he beat a world class field and clocked 1:42.69.

David Rudisha, (Kenya): Rudisha, also a teenager has already produced big things, breaking the 24 year old African Championships record earlier this year in Addis Ababa, running a 1:44.20. This year he has also won the Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha (1:44.36).

Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, 1:42.89 (South Africa): Mulaudzi is the 2004 Olympic silver medallist, the 2004 World Indoor champion and the 2003 World Championship bronze medalist. With a 1:42.89 to his name and some fast times so far this year,Mulaudzi will always stand a chance.

Yeimar López, 1:43.07 (Cuba): López is the latest threat to emerge with a stunning 1:43.07 victory in Jerez, on June 24 of this year. López, previously a 400m runner has a 400m PB of 45.11. However, it's not just the speedy times that signals López as a serious medal threat, but the style in which he defeated Mulaudzi in Jerez, pulling away with 200m to go to win convincingly.

In what must be surely one of the hardest events in which to win gold, other challengers for the crown include athletes from a diverse array of countries including; Wilfred Bungei (Kenya), Alfred Kirwa Yego (Kenya, 144.01), Gilbert Kipchoge (Kenya), Khadevis Robinson (America, if selected), Nick Symmonds (America, if selected), Yusuf Saad Kamel (BRN), Gary Reed (Canada), Boaz Kiplagat (Kenya), as well as other dark horses.

© 2008 The Runner's Tribe