Famous Ethiopian Athletes

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 1 
Abebe Bikila
(First African to Win Olympic Gold Medal and the First Athlete to Win Two Olympic Marathons Back-to-Back)
Abebe Bikila
4
Birthdate: July 7, 1932
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Shewa, Ethiopia
Died: October 25, 1973

Ethiopian marathon runner, Abebe Bikil,a became the first black African Olympic gold medalist at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Four years later, he won his second gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. He created world record both the times. A pioneer in long-distance running, he participated in a total of 16 marathons. 

 2 
Derartu Tulu
(Ethiopian Retired Long-Distance Runner)
Derartu Tulu
6
Birthdate: March 21, 1972
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bekoji, Ethiopia

Derartu Tulu is an Ethiopian retired long-distance runner who took part in several events like road running and marathon. She won a gold medal each at the 1992 and 2000 Olympics. She also won a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics. Tulu is also known for winning a gold and silver medal at the World Championships.

 3 
Almaz Ayana
(Two-Time World Champion Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner Who Is Also an Olympic Gold Medalist)
Almaz Ayana
9
Birthdate: November 21, 1991
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia

Ethiopian long-distance runner Almaz Ayana is not just an Olympic gold medalist but has also won the World Championship twice. She broke the 10,000m world record at the 2016 Rio Olympics, which was also her first year at the Olympics. She is also a Continental Cup and African Championship winner.

 4 
Meseret Defar
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner and Two-Time Olympic Gold Medallist)
Meseret Defar
3
Birthdate: November 19, 1983
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Adis Abeba, Ethiopia

Meseret Defar is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. She is best known for winning a gold medal at the 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games in Athens and London respectively. In 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, Defar won a silver medal for Ethiopia. She has also won medals at the World Championships, All-Africa Games, and World Indoor Championships.

 5 
Letesenbet Gidey
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Letesenbet Gidey
4
Birthdate: March 20, 1998
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Endameskel, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Letesenbet Gidey is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. She is best known for winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. She is also known for winning a gold medal at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, USA. Letesenbet Gidey has also won five gold medals at the World Cross Country Championships.

 6 
Miruts Yifter
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Miruts Yifter
2
Birthdate: May 15, 1944
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Adigrat, Ethiopia
Died: December 23, 2016

Miruts Yifter was an Ethiopian athlete who specialized in long-distance running. He is best remembered for winning two gold medals at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. He also won four gold medals at the IAAF World Cup. Miruts Yifter also had success at the 1973 All-Africa Games where he won a gold medal and a silver medal.

 7 
Kenenisa Bekele
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner and 3-Time Olympic Gold Medalist)
Kenenisa Bekele
0
Birthdate: June 13, 1982
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bekoji, Ethiopia

Ethiopian long-distance runner Kenenisa Bekele is not just a 3-time Olympic gold medalist but has also won the World Championship gold 5 times. He also has 11 World Cross Country Championship gold medals in his kitty. Initially a master of the 5,000m and 10,000m categories, he later focused on marathons.

 8 
Yomif Kejelcha
(Ethiopian Middle-and-Long-Distance Runner)
Yomif Kejelcha
2
Birthdate: August 1, 1997
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Oromia, Ethiopia

Yomif Kejelcha is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in middle and long-distance running. He is best known for winning a gold medal at the 2016 and 2018 World Indoor Championships in Portland and Birmingham respectively. Yomif Kejelcha also won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.

 9 
Muktar Edris
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Muktar Edris
2
Birthdate: January 14, 1994
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Siltʼe Zone, Ethiopia

Muktar Edris is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. He is best known for winning a gold medal each at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships. Prior to his success at the world championships, Edris had success at the World Cross Country Championships, where he won gold and a bronze medal each at the 2013 and 2015 Championships.

 10 
Tiki Gelana
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner Who Specializes in Marathon)
Tiki Gelana
2
Birthdate: October 22, 1987
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Jijiga, Ethiopia

Tiki Gelana is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. She achieved popularity in 2012 when she won the gold medal and created a new Olympic record in the women's marathon event at the Olympic Games in London. From 2012 to 2017, Tiki Gelana held the Ethiopian national record for marathon with a personal best time of 2:18:58.

 11 
Tariku Bekele
(Ethiopian Long Distance Runner Olympic Bronze Medalist)
Tariku Bekele
3
Birthdate: February 28, 1987
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bekoji (woreda), Ethiopia

Ethiopian professional long-distance-runner Tariku Bekele specializes in 5000 m event however has moved up to 10000 m. Bekele ranks as the fourth fastest Ethiopian over 5000 m and 3000 m. His feats include becoming 2006 World Junior Champion over 3000 m; winning 3000 m gold at 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships; and bronze over 10,000 m at 2012 Summer Olympics

 12 
Abeba Aregawi
(Former Ethiopian-Swedish Middle-Distance Runner)
Abeba Aregawi
3
Birthdate: July 5, 1990
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Adigrat, Ethiopia

Abeba Aregawi is an Ethiopian-Swedish former athlete who specialized in middle-distance running. She won all her major medals in the 1500 metres event; bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, silver medal at the 2014 European Championship, and a gold medal each at the 2013 World Championship, 2013 European Indoor Championship, and 2014 World Indoor Championship.

 13 
Tamirat Tola
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner, World Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist)
Tamirat Tola
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Birthdate: August 11, 1991
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ethiopia

World Champion Ethiopian long-distance runner Tamirat Tola specializes in cross-country and road running. He is also an Olympic bronze medalist and an IAAF World Cross Country Championship gold medalist. He clocked his personal best in the 10,000m at a little above 26:57 minutes and has also scored several half-marathon wins.

 14 
Birhanu Legese
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Birhanu Legese
3
Birthdate: September 11, 1994
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Woliso, Oromia, Ethiopia

Birhanu Legese is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. Currently, he is part of the famous NN Running Team, which is being managed by Global Sports Communication. In 2016, he won the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon. Birhanu Legese won the Tokyo Marathon in 2019 despite cold and rainy conditions. He won again in Tokyo the following year.

 15 
Abadi Hadis
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner and World Championships Bronze Winner Who Died at Age 22)
Abadi Hadis
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Birthdate: November 6, 1997
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Died: February 4, 2020

Ethiopian runner Abadi Hadis was a teenager when he finished third at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships. He later became one of 5 men to score better than 13 minutes for 5000m and 27 minutes for 10,000m. Unfortunately, he died of an undisclosed illness at age 22.

 16 
Amedework Walelegn
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Amedework Walelegn
3
Birthdate: March 11, 1999
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Ethiopia

Amedework Walelegn is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. He achieved popularity in 2018 when he broke the Istanbul Half record in the process of winning the Istanbul Half Marathon. Amedework Walelegn then went on to win the New Delhi Half Marathon in 2020.