Famous Ethiopian Marathon Runners

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 1 
Haile Gebrselassie
(Former Ethiopian Long-Distance Track Athlete and Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist)
Haile Gebrselassie
16
Birthdate: April 18, 1973
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Assela, Ethiopia

Ethiopian Olympic legend and businessman, Haile Gebrselassie, a retired long-distance, road and track running athlete, is counted among the greatest distance runners in history. He set 27 world records in athletics and broke 61 Ethiopian national records. His achievements include winning two Olympic gold medals, four World Championship titles, four World Indoor Championship titles and one World Half Marathon Championship.  

 2 
Abebe Bikila
(First African to Win Olympic Gold Medal and the First Athlete to Win Two Olympic Marathons Back-to-Back)
Abebe Bikila
8
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. 

 3 
Tirunesh Dibaba
(The Youngest Female World Champion in Long-Distance Track Event)
Tirunesh Dibaba
12
Birthdate: June 1, 1985
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bekoji, Ethiopia

Ethiopian distance runner Tirunesh Dibaba scripted history by becoming the youngest female World Champion, in 2003, when she was a little over 18 years. She is also the first female to win the Olympic 5,000m/10,000m double. The 5-time World Champion is also a 3-time Olympic gold medalist.

 4 
Kenenisa Bekele
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner and 3-Time Olympic Gold Medalist)
Kenenisa Bekele
4
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.

 5 
Mamo Wolde
(Ethiopian Long Distance Runner and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Mamo Wolde
3
Birthdate: June 12, 1932
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ada'a, Ethiopia
Died: May 26, 2002

Ethiopian Olympic legend Degaga "Mamo" Wolde, an international distance running star, was a cross-country, road and track running athlete. He won gold medal in men’s marathon event and silver medal in 10000 m event at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. Wolde bagged his third Olympic medal, a bronze, at the 1972 Olympic marathon in Munich, West Germany.

 6 
Feyisa Lilesa
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Feyisa Lilesa
5
Birthdate: February 1, 1990
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Oromia, Ethiopia

Feyisa Lilesa is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. He achieved popularity in 2010 when he became the youngest man to complete the men's marathon at the NN Rotterdam Marathon under 2:06. He went on to win a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu. Feyisa Lilesa also won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.

 7 
Gezahegne Abera
(Ethiopian Athlete Who Specializes in Marathon Races)
Gezahegne Abera
3
Birthdate: April 23, 1978
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ethiopia

Gezahegne Abera is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in marathon races. He is best known for winning the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics. He won the medal at the age of 22, becoming the youngest marathon winner since 1932 when Juan Carlos Zabala won the race. Abera went on to win the gold medal at the 2001 World Championships.

 8 
Genzebe Dibaba
(Ethiopian Middle-and-Long-Distance Runner)
Genzebe Dibaba
8
Birthdate: February 8, 1991
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bekoji, Ethiopia

Genzebe Dibaba is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in middle and long-distance running. She is best known for winning a silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games. Prior to 2016, she had success at the 2015 World Championships where she won gold and a bronze medal. Genzebe Dibaba has also won five gold medals at the World Indoor Championships.

 9 
Lelisa Desisa
(World Champion Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Lelisa Desisa
3
Birthdate: January 14, 1990
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Shewa, Oromia, Ethiopia

Two-time Boston Marathon-winning Ethiopian long-distance runner Lelisa Desisa has also been a World Champion, an All-Africa Games Champion, and an African Junior Champion. A road running expert, he had also won the 2018 New York Marathon. His personal best has been 10,000m in a little over 27 minutes.  

 10 
Selemon Barega
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner ana Olympic Gold Medalist)
Selemon Barega
3
Birthdate: January 20, 2000
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Gurage, Ethiopia

Ethiopian long-distance runner Selemon Barega is not just an Olympic gold medalist but has also won a World Championship silver medal. Considered a rising star in the racing circle, he excels in 3,000m, 5,000m, and 10,000m. He has also been a Diamond League champion in 5,000m.

 11 
Tsegaye Kebede
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Tsegaye Kebede
2
Birthdate: January 15, 1987
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Mekelle, Ethiopia

Tsegaye Kebede is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. He is best known for winning the bronze medal in the men's marathon event at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The following year, Tsegaye Kebede also won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany.

 12 
Ejegayehu Dibaba
(Ethiopian Long Distance Runner and Olympic Silver Medalist)
Ejegayehu Dibaba
5
Birthdate: March 21, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ethiopia

Ethiopian long-distance runner Ejegayehu Dibaba beat her cousin and two-time Olympic gold medallist Derartu Tulu to clinch the silver medal in the 10,000 m event at 2004 Summer Olympics. Her personal bests also include winning two bronze medals at 2005 World Championships in Athletics over 5000 m and 10000 m respectively, and winning her marathon debut at 2011 Chicago Marathon.

 13 
Shura Kitata
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Shura Kitata
3
Birthdate: June 9, 1996
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ethiopia

Shura Kitata is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. He is best known for winning a gold medal at the 2020 World Marathon Majors. Shura Kitata also won two silver medals in 2018 at the World Marathon Majors. Apart from competing in marathon races around the world, Kitata also competes in half-marathons.

 14 
Gete Wami
(Ethiopian Former Long-Distance Runner and Olympic Medalist)
Gete Wami
0
Birthdate: January 28, 1974
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Debre Berhan, Ethiopia
 15 
Belayneh Densamo
(Former Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Belayneh Densamo
1
Birthdate: June 28, 1965
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Ethiopia

Belayneh Densamo is an Ethiopian retired athlete who specialized in long-distance running. He held the marathon world record for 10 years between 1988 and 1998. Belayneh Densamo also represented his country in important tournaments including the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.

 16 
Fatuma Roba
(The First African Female Long-Distance Runner to Win an Olympic Marathon Gold)
Fatuma Roba
1
Birthdate: December 18, 1973
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bekoji, Ethiopia

Ethiopian long-distance runner Fatuma Roba won her very first marathon in 1993. She then won the Olympic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, scripting history as the first African female runner to win an Olympic marathon gold. She also won 3 consecutive Boston Marathons, from 1997 to 1999.

 17 
Sileshi Sihine
(Former Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Sileshi Sihine
3
Birthdate: January 29, 1983
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sheno, Ethiopia

Sileshi Sihine is an Ethiopian former athlete who specialized in long-distance running. He is best known for winning a silver medal each at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games in Athens and Beijing respectively. Sileshi Sihine is also known for his performances in World Championships, where he won three silver medals and a bronze medal between 2003 and 2007.  

 18 
Guye Adola
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner Who Specializes in the Half Marathon)
Guye Adola
2
Birthdate: October 20, 1990
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Adola, Oromiya Region, Ethiopia

Guye Adola is an Ethiopian track and field athlete who specializes in the half marathon. He achieved popularity in 2014 when he won two bronze medals at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. Adola made his marathon debut in 2017 when he competed in the Berlin Marathon; he finished at 2:03:46 and set the record for the fastest marathon-debut ever.

 19 
Mosinet Geremew
(Ethiopian Athlete Who Specializes in Middle and Long-Distance Running)
Mosinet Geremew
3
Birthdate: February 12, 1992
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ethiopia

Mosinet Geremew is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in middle and long-distance running. He is best known for winning a silver medal each at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships in Doha and Eugene respectively. Mosinet Geremew has won many marathons around the world, including the Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon and the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon.

 20 
Hagos Gebrhiwet
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner, Olympic Bronze Medalist and World Cross Country Champion)
Hagos Gebrhiwet
2
Birthdate: May 11, 1994
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ts'a'ida Imba, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Ethiopian World Cross Country Champion long-distance runner and 3-time Olympian Hagos Gebrhiwet is a World Championship silver medalist and an Olympic bronze medalist. He also won the 3,000m World Indoor Tour in 2018. He has been associated with the club Mesfin Industrial Engineering.

 21 
Sisay Lemma
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Sisay Lemma
2
Birthdate: December 12, 1990
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Ethiopia

Ethiopian runner Sisay Lemma was 17 when he started running and initially ran barefoot, as he was unable to afford running shoes. He won the 2021 London Marathon by finishing at a little over 2 minutes. He also participated in the men’s marathon event in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

 22 
Deriba Merga
(Ethiopian Professional Long-Distance Runner)
Deriba Merga
0
Birthdate: October 26, 1980
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Nekemte, Ethiopia
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 23 
Ibrahim Jeilan
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Ibrahim Jeilan
2
Birthdate: June 12, 1989
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bale Province, Ethiopia

Ibrahim Jeilan is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. He is best known for winning a gold medal at the 2011 World Championships. He then won a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. Ibrahim Jeilan is also known for winning medals in important tournaments like All-Africa Games, African Championships, and IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

 24 
Tesfaye Tola
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Tesfaye Tola
1
Birthdate: October 19, 1974
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ethiopia
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 25 
Alia Saeed Mohammed
(Ethiopian-Born Emirati Long-Distance Runner)
Alia Saeed Mohammed
2
Birthdate: May 18, 1991
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ethiopia

Alia Saeed Mohammed is an Ethiopian-born Emirati athlete who specializes in long-distance running. She represents the United Arab Emirates in important tournaments and won gold medals at the 2011 Pan Arab Games and the 2014 Asian Games. Alia Saeed Mohammed also participated at the Asian Athletics Championships in 2017 where she won the silver medal.

 26 
Elfenesh Alemu
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Elfenesh Alemu
0
Birthdate: June 10, 1975
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ethiopia
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 27 
Alemu Bekele
(Ethiopian Professional Long-Distance Runner)
Alemu Bekele
3
Birthdate: March 23, 1990
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ethiopia
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 28 
Ababel Yeshaneh
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner Who Specializes in Marathons, Half-Marathons, Cross-Country, and 10,000m)
Ababel Yeshaneh
6
Birthdate: July 22, 1991
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Ethiopia

Ethiopian distance runner Ababel Yeshaneh started her international marathon career by winning the 2011 Vadodara Half Marathon. An Olympian, she has also won a silver medal at the 2014 African Cross-Country Championships held in Kampala. Apart from marathons and half-marathons, she specializes in cross-country and 10,000m.