PARIS, Nov 12 (AFP) - Double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj will interrupt his usual winter training period in the mountains of his native Morocco to make a pilgrimage to the holy site of Mecca, his agent said Friday.
Laurent Boquillet said El Guerrouj, who usually spends the winter months training in Ifrane, had yet to set dates but was determined to visit Mecca.
El Guerrouj, who won the 1500 and 5000 metres titles in Athens this summer, could plan his trip around November 14 or 15, dates which encompass the festival of Aid el-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of ramadan.
The 30-year-old Moroccan, who is set to make the 2005 world championships in Helsinki his international swansong, has scheduled two indoor races and two cross country races for between mid-January and mid March.