Kenya's world marathon record-holder Paul Tergat says he will feel no pressure at the Olympics despite being the man to beat in Athens.
The five-time former world cross country champion is a hot favourite for the Olympic marathon gold on August 29.
"I am not scared of anybody. In fact, they (rivals) should be scared of me," Tergat told Reuters on Thursday.
"I am feeling no pressure at all. My training is going on pretty well and I will be through by August 15. I will reach Athens on August 25," added the 35-year-old.
"I know that winning big city marathons and setting world records are different from winning at Olympics. But this is the only medal I don't have and I have set me eyes on it," he said.
"The challenge is there but do I run away from it? I am ready to face it. Marathon is a tough race, a very demanding race whose medal ought to weigh heavier than the others.
"But we have a strong team, rich in experience and status. We have statistics on our side and I am sure we shall pull through, both men and women."
Tergat said his only worry was that with the marathon coming on the last day of the Games, the runners may be distracted by athletes who will have completed their programmes and will be partying the night before.
"Everybody will have finished their business except marathon runners. But I hope that there will be order along the route so that there is no unnecessary distraction," he said.
WORLD RECORDS
Dubbed "Mr Silver" for winning the silver medal and not the gold at many races, Tergat vowed he would hit gold this time.
"I have every silverware in my cabinet, except an Olympic gold. This should indicate to you how important I am taking the Games in Athens," said Tergat, a sergeant in the Kenya Air Force.
He won a 10,000m Olympic silver medal in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney four years later. He won the world cross country senior men's title for five successive years between 1995 and 1999.
He has equally dominated the half-marathon scene and won the world half marathon title in 1999 and 2000.
Tergat also held the 10,000m world record in 1997 and last October set a world marathon record of two hours four minutes and 55 seconds in Berlin. He also holds the world half-marathon record.
He will be in the marathon team with Kenyan Olympic silver medallist Eric Wainaina and Sammy Korir who was second to him when he set the world record in Berlin last year.
