Last Chance Champs

No kid watching Olympians compete on TV ever daydreams about bringing home the bronze. And there's no oomph to the idea of going for the silver. Let's be honest: the Games are about the gold — and not only for personal glory. "A gold medal," says Moroccan runner Hicham El Guerrouj, "would mean getting into the history books for my country."

So how does it feel to climb nearly to the pinnacle of a sport and be stopped just short of the top? A handful of the world's best athletes have set world records, won world titles and even Olympic medals — but never bagged the elusive gold. Here's a look at four stars for whom Athens will be the last chance to win the biggest prize in sports.

HICHAM EL GUERROUJ, MOROCCO
For the past decade, the world's 1,500-m runners have enjoyed a fine view of El Guerrouj's heels. The 29-year-old Moroccan has dominated the metric mile, in which he holds the world record and 7 of the 10 fastest times ever. He has won four straight world titles. Twice, he has gone to the Games as the favorite. But he left Atlanta with only painful memories of stumbling to the line last after tumbling to the track on the final lap. He won a medal in Sydney in 2000, but it was only silver.

Today, El Guerrouj offers no platitudes about how good it felt to try (because it didn't) or what an honor it was to do his best (it wasn't). "It is a big disappointment. I have won every other title," he says. "Olympic gold is the only thing missing from my career." Earlier this year, it looked as if his last try would be doomed by allergies, which he says "disturbed my preparation a lot." But he has proved he's in fine form over the last month. Two weeks ago in Zurich, he ran his fastest 1,500 m since 2002 — though he was edged out at the line by Kenya's Bernard Lagat.

El Guerrouj confesses that he wants to "be remembered as the greatest miler ever. But I'm trying to put it in more perspective lately." He thinks of how he was inspired by countryman Said Aouita, who won the 5,000 m in 1984. Gold would give "joy to people in Morocco," El Guerrouj says. He's thinking of one person in particular, who has brought him only joy since she was born in June. On Aug. 24 in Athens, he says, "I want to win for my daughter, Hiba."

martina navratilova, u.s.
The first shall be the last — Olympics, that is. Martina Navratilova, 47, is making her one and only attempt to win perhaps the only honor in the tennis universe that she doesn't already have. The Czech-born American won her first pro tournament 30 years ago and has racked up 167 singles titles and 174 in doubles, more than any other player, male or female. But she doesn't have an Olympic gold.