All the wins Kenenisa Bekele has been collecting this year won't make up for the one tragic loss.
Bekele's fiancee, Alem Techale, died in January from an apparent heart attack during a routine training run she took with Bekele in their native Ethiopia. They were to be married in May.
"This year, after I lost my fiancee ... It's tragic," Bekele said.
On Monday, Bekele retained his 10,000m title at the athletics World Championships, then decided to skip the upcoming 5,000m and the possibility of a double.
"I'm very tired. This year is very difficult for me to run after I lose my fiancee. I'm not preparing very well. I have sadness in my heart," the Olympic champion said.
Bekele has won every outdoor race this year. He completed an unprecedented fourth straight long-short course double at the cross-country World Championships in March, then won his next four races.
He used his powerful finishing kick over the last lap on a windy and rainy night at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium to win the 10,000m. Bekele crossed the line in 27 minutes, 8.33 seconds, 48.02 seconds off his world record.
Ethiopian teammate Sileshi Sihine finished second in 27:08.87 and Moses Mosop of Kenya settled for bronze in 27:08.96.
Sihine said the last lap was "very tough," but "everything went according to our plan."
Bekele looked over his shoulder entering the home straight and cruised home with his powerful, elegant stride.
"It's very important to be the world champion. If I lose, I'm very angry you know," he said.
The win gave Bekele half of the achievement of his illustrious compatriot Haile Gebrselassie, who won four world titles and two Olympic 10,000m golds.
Bekele attempted the 10,000m and 5,000m double at the Olympics last year in Athens, but lost the shorter race to Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj. With El Guerrouj sitting out the Helsinki championships because of illness, Bekele had no motivation to run again.
"It is always nice to win gold in the Olympics and the World Championships, but this year I am not because of my sorrow," Bekele said.
Jos Hermens, Bekele's agent, said it was not an easy season for the Ethiopian.
"If El Guerrouj were here, it would have been a challenge. You talk about last year and his eyes flicker, `I want revenge.' For his body now it's better he doesn't run. He had a very difficult year, why do it? I don't think it's a good idea. It's also good for the sport to have another winner in the 5,000," Hermens said.
Bekele plans to run 5,000m in the upcoming meet in Zurich and the 10,000m in Brussels.
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