"Pretoria - Former president Nelson Mandela could soon have an Olympic gold medal to hang around his neck.

It belongs to Ethiopian long-distance superstar Haile Gebrselassie, who has, according to a website report, said he would like to send his 2000 Sydney Olympics medal to the veteran statesman.

Gebrselassie, who won two Olympic gold medals and four world titles over 10 000m, recently received a copy of Mandela's book, Long Walk To Freedom from the former SA president.

According to an article on the International Amateur Athletics Federation website, recently retired Gebrselassie was stunned when he received the autographed book.

It seems the 33-year-old Gebrselassie was under the impression that he merely had to attend another social event when he was invited to the Hilton Hotel in Addis Ababa last Friday night.

""I cannot believe it!"" Gebrselassie exclaimed when he was given the book that Mandela had signed and specially sent to him.

Mandela's long-time spokesperson Zelda la Grange says a former colleague of Mandela had approached him to autograph the book and send it to the athlete.

La Grange said she couldn't remember who the person was.

Wants runner to keep his medal

Asked about Gebrselassie's reported intention to send his Sydney Olympics medal to Mandela, she said: ""Madiba feels greatly honoured by this gesture, but he would prefer the person to keep it.

""It is such a great honour to have such a medal that Madiba would not like to take that away from anyone.""

According to the report on the IAAF website, Gebrselassie said he would like to give Mandela something in return for the surprise gift by sending him, not only his Sydney gold medal, but also his running vest and shorts.

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