An aging Ethiopian legend continues to defy nature

Ethiopia’s Haile Gebreselasie has just won another race in the Fukuaka International Marathon. Finishing the course in two hours, six minutes and 52 seconds, he barely missed the track record.

Gebreselassie, who also won this year’s Berlin Marathon, pushed ahead of Jaouad Gharib of Morocco with three kilometers left before the finish line. The 33 year old already has Gold in both the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics but ask anyone and they will tell you Haile is not even close to as explosive as he used to be in his 20s. After having handed the torch to the much younger Kenesissa Bekele, a new Ethiopian great, many expected Haile to be out of many races. To the misery of his opponents, Haile doesn’t seem to be missing out on the action and continues to exploit his experience as well as his inexhaustible gas full of endurance to win more races.

He was the world record holder in the 5000 and 10,000 until it got broken by fellow countryman Kenesissa. But his consistency is unmatched even by his fellow Ethiopian runners for he has repeatedly kept his times high in these races. He has broken the world record in the 5000 and 10,000 seventeen times. And if his races for 2000 meters and 2 miles on worldwide competitions are added he has quadruple the number of those records.

At the Athens Olympic games in 2004, he finished just 5th place in the 10,000 meters, but don’t expect anything to bring down the determination of one of the greatest runners in world history. This indefatigable man has also recently won the 10k at the Great Manchester Run in United Kingdom.

Haile Gebreselassie also has a $1 million deal with the London Marathon for three years. In addition, he has been involved in various development programs to help his country as well as holding the famous Great Ethiopian Run every year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also directed and acted on the film, ENDURANCE, one of the most famous Ethiopian movies telling the story of his life. In addition, he also sponsors other Ethiopians, who can’t afford to fly for races, to run in international races. A hero, a legend and a compassionate man with a love for his country that is as endless as his endurance on the track, Haile Gebreselassie is and will remain the modern symbol of Ethiopia’s eminence, progress & hopes.