Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopian stayer and marathon runner. Date of Birth: 18.04.1973 Country: Ethiopia

1. Biography of Haile Gebrselassie
2. Early Life and Career
3. Championship Successes
4. Olympic Success and World Records
5. Transition to Marathon Running
6. Later Years and Retirement

Biography of Haile Gebrselassie

Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance runner and marathoner. He began running at a young age and his talent is well-known in the world of sports to this day. Over the years, Haile has won numerous accolades including two Olympic gold medals, four World Championship gold medals, and countless other medals in major international competitions.

Early Life and Career

Haile Gebrselassie was one of ten children in his family. He spent his childhood on a farm where he had to run 10 kilometers every morning to the nearest school, and back home in the evenings. It was during this time that Haile developed his distinctive running posture, with his left arm pressed close to his body as if holding a stack of books. In 1992, Haile gained international attention when he won the 5000 and 10000-meter races at the Junior World Championships in Seoul. He also won a silver medal in the junior race at the World Cross Country Championships that same year.

Championship Successes

In 1993, Haile achieved his first victory in the men's 10000-meter race at the World Championships. This win marked the beginning of a remarkable series of four consecutive wins in the same event in 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1999. His first victory was particularly memorable as he accidentally stepped on Moses Tanui's heel, causing Tanui to lose his shoe and finish in second place. In the 5000-meter race in 1993, Haile also performed exceptionally well, finishing second behind Ismael Kirui of Kenya. In 1994, Haile won a bronze medal at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and set his first world record in the 5000 meters with a time of 12:56.96.

Olympic Success and World Records

In 1996, Haile had a brilliant performance at the Atlanta Olympics, winning the gold medal in the 10000 meters. He continued to achieve outstanding results, breaking a new world record in the 10000 meters in June 1998. In 1999, Haile starred as himself in the film "Endurance," which chronicled his remarkable performance at the 1996 Olympics. He won gold in both the double 1500/3000-meter race at the World Indoor Championships and the 10000-meter race at the World Outdoor Championships. In the latter, he was unbeatable, surpassing all his competitors. Haile also won gold in the 5000 and 10000 meters at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, successfully defending his titles from four years earlier.

Transition to Marathon Running

After the 2004 Olympics, Haile decided to focus on road running and marathon distances. He made his debut at the London Marathon in 2002 but struggled to maintain the pace. In 2005, Haile dominated all the road races he participated in and set several new world records. In 2006, he broke the world record for the half marathon and the 25-kilometer road race (although the latter did not comply with IAAF rules). While he finished only 9th in the London Marathon, Haile redeemed himself at the Berlin Marathon by winning and setting the best time of the year.

Later Years and Retirement

The London Marathon in April 2007 was highly anticipated as Haile competed against several top runners. However, he was unable to finish the race due to a severe allergic reaction to pollen in the air. Health problems continued to plague Haile, including a knee inflammation that forced him to withdraw from the 2010 New York City Marathon. He briefly announced his retirement but later reconsidered. Although he mentioned a potential future in politics, Haile has continued to compete actively in various races and has achieved remarkable results to this day.