Haile Gebrselassie

"Gebrselassie" redirects here. For the Ethiopian emperor, see Haile Selassie. For the Czech footballer, see Theodor Gebre Selassie.
This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by his given name, Haile, and not as Gebrselassie.

Haile Gebrselassie
Haile in 2012
Personal information
Full nameHaile Gebresilasse
CitizenshipEthiopian
Born (1973-04-18) 18 April 1973 (age 51)
Asella, Arsi Province, Ethiopian Empire
Height1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Weight54 kg (119 lb)[1]
Spouse
Alem Gebrselassie
​
(m. 1996)​
Children3, Edet, Melat, and Batiy
Sport
CountryEthiopia
SportAthletics/Track, Long-distance running
Event(s)10,000 metres, 5000 metres, 3000 metres, 1500 metres, Half marathon, Marathon
ClubAdidas
RetiredMay 2015
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals
  • 1996 Atlanta
  • 10,000 m,  Gold
  • 2000 Sydney
  • 10,000 m,  Gold
  • 2004 Athens
  • 10,000 m, 5th
  • 2008 Beijing
  • 10,000 m, 6th
World finals
  • 1993 Stuttgart
  • 5000 m,  Silver
  • 10,000 m,  Gold
  • 1995 Gothenburg
  • 10,000 m,  Gold
  • 1997 Athens
  • 10,000 m,  Gold
  • 1999 Seville
  • 10,000 m,  Gold
  • 2001 Edmonton
  • 10,000 m,  Bronze
  • 2003 Paris
  • 10,000 m,  Silver
Personal bests
Medal record
Representing  Ethiopia
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 2 0 0
World Championships 4 2 1
World Indoor Championships 4 0 0
African Championships 0 1 1
World Cross Country Championships 0 0 1
Total 10 3 3
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney 10,000 m
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 10,000 m
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1999 Seville 10,000 m
Gold medal – first place 1997 Athens 10,000 m
Gold medal – first place 1995 Gothenburg 10,000 m
Gold medal – first place 1993 Stuttgart 10,000 m
Silver medal – second place 2003 Paris 10,000 m
Silver medal – second place 1993 Stuttgart 5000 m
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Edmonton 10,000 m
World Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 2003 Birmingham 3000 m
Gold medal – first place 1999 Maebashi 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 1999 Maebashi 3000 m
Gold medal – first place 1997 Paris 3000 m
African Championships
Silver medal – second place 1993 Durban 5000 m
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Durban 10,000 m
World Cross Country Championships
Silver medal – second place 1992 Boston Junior race
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Budapest Senior race
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Budapest Senior team
World Half Marathon Championships
Gold medal – first place 2001 Bristol Individual
Gold medal – first place 2001 Bristol Team
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1992 Seoul 5000 m
Gold medal – first place 1992 Seoul 10,000 m
President of Ethiopian Athletic Federation
In office
6 November 2016 – 14 November 2018
Preceded bySileshi Sihine
Succeeded byDerartu Tulu

Haile Gebrselassie (Amharic: ኀይሌ ገብረ ሥላሴ, romanized: Haylē Gebre Silassē; born 18 April 1973) is an Ethiopian former long-distance track, road running athlete, and businessman.[2][3] He won two Olympic gold medals and four World Championship titles over the 10,000 metres. Haile triumphed in the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon. He also earned four world titles indoors and was the 2001 World Half Marathon Champion.

Haile had major competition wins at distances between 1,500 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 metres to the marathon, set 27 world records, and is regarded as one of the greatest long distance runners in history.[4][5][6][7][8] He won the 2008 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. Haile's 10,000 m Masters age group world record remains unchallenged since 2008. Due to his various achievements on track & road running events, many called him as the "Emperor of the Distance Running". Beyond his athletic achievements, he is a successful businessman, contributing to the development of his home country.[9]

Haile was cited as one of the top 100 most influential Africans by New African in 2011.[10] During the Hachalu Hundessa riots in 2020, Oromo mobs targeted the businesses and properties of non-Oromos. Haile's hotels and resort were burned and 400 employees lost their jobs.[11][12] In 2021, in the midst of the Tigray War, he pledged to join the fighting against the Tigray People's Liberation Front.[13][14]

  1. ^ a b "iaaf.org – Athletes".
  2. ^ "At home, and at work with Gebrselassie in Addis Ababa". World Athletics. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Olympic legend and now successful businessman Haile Gebrselassie warns West not to push Ethiopia". Sky News. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Gebrselassie's great plan". The Independent. UK. 2 June 2000. Archived from the original on 7 January 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  5. ^ "Men's 10,000m: Gebrselassie may be the best of all time". CBC Sports. 6 August 2001.
  6. ^ "Haile successful: Gebrselassie reminds us once again of his greatness". Sports Illustrated. 5 August 2007. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  7. ^ Longman, Jere (13 April 2002). "MARATHON; Gebrselassie's Plan Could Hurt Him in the End". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "Steinle seeking London glory". London: BBC Sport. 4 April 2002.
  9. ^ Agency, Africa News (2 February 2024). "Haile Gebrselassie : the icon of athletics and business world". Africa News Agency (in French). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  10. ^ "New-African Magazine announces the 100 most influential Africans of 2013 – Ethiosports". Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  11. ^ Sparks, John (8 July 2021). "Olympic legend and now successful businessman Haile Gebrselassie warns West not to push Ethiopia". Sky News.
  12. ^ "Athlete Haile Gebresilassie Demands Justice for Destroyed Hotels". ezega.com.
  13. ^ "Ethiopian Olympic gold medallist Haile Gebrselassie to join war, ready to pay 'ultimate price'". Reuters. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Ethiopia's prime minister heads to frontline of civil war as Olympians enlist in army". NBC News. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2022.