updated 10:25 a.m. ET Aug. 25, 2004

ATHENS, Greece - Hicham El Guerrouj is no longer the world’s greatest middle-distance runner never to win an Olympic title. Now, he’s simply the greatest, period.

In Atlanta in 1996, the Moroccan tripped on the final lap and finished last. Four years ago in Sydney, he was overtaken in the final meters by Noah Ngeny, then lay sobbing on the track in despair, convinced he’d let down his entire country.

All that heartbreak evaporated Tuesday night when El Guerrouj held off Kenya’s Bernard Lagat in a thrilling shoulder-to-shoulder sprint in the final straight to win the only title to elude him — and the one he craved the most.

“Four years ago in Sydney I cried tears of sadness,” he said. “Today I cry tears of joy. I’m living a moment of glory. I’m overjoyed for myself and for my country.”

El Guerrouj threw his arms high in the air and looked up to the sky after crossing the finish line in 3:34.18, just 12-hundredths of a second faster than Lagat. Portugal’s Rui Silva took the bronze in 3:34.68.

In some of the most poignant scenes of the Athens Games, the 29-year-old El Guerrouj fell to his knees on the track, buried his face in his hands and cried uncontrollably. Lagat was the first to congratulate him, kneeling down and holding him in a warm embrace.

“Hicham El Guerrouj is a classy athlete,” Lagat said. “He was only missing one thing, Olympic gold. I knew he wanted this one so bad. I was really happy for him. It was quite emotional. You feel for him. You know he’s deserving and he got it today.”

El Guerrouj rolled over onto his back, his chest heaving with sobs. Then he set off on a victory lap, draped in the Moroccan flag. He went over to his 19-year-old wife, Majuva, in the stands and kissed their baby daughter, Hiba.

“Today I ran for her and for my family,” he said. “Inshallah (God willing), she will be happy for her papa.”

El Guerrouj danced to the Greek music blaring from the loudspeakers, then took a cell phone call from the king of Morocco, Mohammed VI. After the devastating experiences of the last two Olympics, this was a moment to treasure.

“It had become a psychological complex,” said his longtime coach, Abdelkaker Kada. “The Olympic medal was all that was left. Now, for me, today he becomes the best miler in history.”

El Guerrouj has been the undisputed middle-distance king for more than a decade, with four straight world championship titles, and world records in the 1,500 and mile.

But this year he looked vulnerable. His 29-race winning streak ended July 2 when he finished a stunning eighth at a Rome meet. He complained of breathing problems. He finished second to Lagat in a final Olympic tuneup in Zurich, with the Kenyan clocking a world-leading 3:27.40.

“It’s been a very, very difficult year,” he said. “I didn’t even know if I would come to the Olympics. But I overcame the challenges. This shows Hicham is a great athlete.”

The race lived up to expectations.

El Guerrouj went in front on the second lap and took control of the pace, with Lagat right behind him. On the final lap, El Guerrouj tried to break away, but Lagat stayed with him. Around the last bend, Lagat made his move on the outside, pulling alongside El Guerrouj. The two ran all-out, stride for stride, toward the line.

Lagat grimaced with exertion, but El Guerrouj remained smooth and controlled. In the last few meters, Lagat tightened up and the Moroccan pulled half a stride ahead to finish first.

“In the last 100 meters I knew it was going to come down to the kick,” Lagat said. “I was right behind him all the way. With 50 meters left I thought this could be another Zurich, but he had the strongest kick today.”

El Guerrouj said he accelerated with 400 meters to go, then again with 200 meters left, and yet still couldn’t shake Lagat.

“In the last 50 meters I had the image of Sydney in my mind,” he said. “In Sydney I didn’t have the energy to accelerate at the end. This time I had the energy. I felt I could push it. I knew I would win.”

It’s not over yet for El Guerrouj. He’s also running the 5,000 meters in a bid to become the first athlete to win the 1,500 and 5,000 at the same Olympics since Finnish great Paavo Nurmi in 1924. Qualifying starts Wednesday.

“I’m really hungry,” he said. “I have a huge desire to win the gold. It will be a great battle with the Kenyans.”

It also won’t be the last Olympic 1,500 race for El Guerrouj. He said he plans to compete in Beijing in 2008.

Among those savoring El Guerrouj’s victory was Nawal El Moutawakel, who won the 400-meter hurdles in Los Angles in 1984 to become the first gold medalist from Morocco and the first woman from a Muslim nation to win an Olympic medal.

“This means to much for the youth of the country,” she said. “Hicham is a hero, a great role model for generations yet to come. He has worked for this for a long time. It was all about dedication and willpower and guts.”

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