Haile Gebrselassie

Olympic athlete

1973 –

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Who is Haile Gebrselassie?

Haile Gebrselassie was an Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon. Further to this, he won four world titles indoors and was the 2001 World Half Marathon Champion.

Haile had major competition wins at distances between 1500 metres and the marathon, moving from outdoor, indoor and cross country running to road running in the latter part of his career. He broke 61 Ethiopian National Records ranging from 800 meters to the marathon, set 27 world records, and is widely considered one of the greatest distance runners in history.

In September 2008, at the age of 35, he won the Berlin Marathon with a world record time of 2:03:59, breaking his own world record by 27 seconds. The record stood for three years. Since he was over the age of 35, that mark still stands as the Masters Age group world record.

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Born
Apr 18, 1973
Asella
Also known as
  • Haïlé Gebresélassié
Parents
Spouses
Ethnicity
  • Oromo people
Nationality
  • Ethiopia
Profession
Lived in
  • Asella

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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