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Mulaudzi faces great Kipketer
Athens - Inspired by Hicham El Guerrouj's victory in the men's 1 500m, Denmark's Wilson Kipketer remained on course to realise his dream of an Olympic title after winning his semi-final on Thursday.
His Moroccan friend broke his 1 500 metre jinx on Tuesday, leaving the three-times world 800m champion and world record holder in danger of going down in history as one of the greatest athletes never to win a gold medal.
In 1996, the Kenyan-born Kipketer was blocked by the Kenyan federation from competing at the Atlanta Olympics as he was not yet a citzen of his adopted country, while at the Sydney Olympics he got a silver.
"It was a really easy race," said a smiling and relaxed Kipketer after cruising through his semi in 1min 44.63sec.
"I am happy I didn't miss out on the final but I'm not really thinking about it, although it would be a crowning moment if I won. I am just looking forward to the final on Saturday."
Kipketer, 31, will not have things his own way.
Kenya's Wilfred Bungei, the fastest man in the world this year, clocked a sizzling 1:44.28, winning the fastest of the three semi-finals.
"It's going to be a fun final. There are guys there that have a big kick so I have got to make it fast," said Bungei.
The two medallists behind Said Guerni at the World Championships also made it through to Saturday's final.
Russia's Yuriy Borzakovskiy and South Africa's Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, silver and bronze medalists respectively 12 months ago, finished second in their semi-finals behind Bungei and Said Guerni.
South Africa's other hope, Hezekiel Sepeng, finished fourth in his heat and was eliminated, despite running at 1:44 time.
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