The only Brazilian athlete to qualify for the 10,000 meters competition in the Beijing Olympics, Marilson Gomes dos Santos declared on Wednesday that he will not compete in the event. The decision is based on the same idea as Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira. Both athletes have dropped out of an already guaranteed event so that they can better concentrate on another, hoping to bring home a gold medal in this year's event in China.
Marilson recorded a time of 27 minutes 35.05 seconds in the 10,000 meters two weeks ago in Belgium, good enough to classify to enter the competition at the Beijing Olympics. However, the time did not entirely satisfy the runner. The athlete prefers to concentrate on what he considers his best chance at standing on the Olympic podium: the marathon.
"We want to concentrate on the marathon. It is an event in which I can upset the favorites of the race. I know that I am on the same level as the top runners," said Marilson.
(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2008)