Gebrselassie

But the 24-year-old completed his bid for double world indoor gold - becoming only the second man after Haile Gebrselassie in 1999 to achieve that in the 1500m and 3,000m - to replicate the European indoor double he achieved for a third consecutive time a fortnight ago.

His interest in running came from watching his cousin, a runner who often worked as a pacemaker for Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie.

Kiptum's love for running stemmed from watching his cousin, an athlete who often ran as a pacemaker for Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie, but he had to convince those closest to him that he could make it in athletics.

The 38-year-old Kenyan set the men's record of 2:01.09 in Berlin last year, when he moved level with Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie on four wins.

And as the war has intensified, the government has called on civilians to enlist, with Olympic heroes like the long-distance runners Haile Gebrselassie and Feyisa Lilesa voicing their support for the war effort.