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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.