Kenenisa Bekele

Kenenisa Bekele (born June 13, 1982 in Bekoji/Arsi) is an Ethiopian distance runner, taking gold in the 10,000 m. at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics and bronze at the 5,000 m. Only 22, he is widely acknowledged as the best young distance runner in the world.

As of 2004, he has taken both (short and long) races at the world cross country championships 3 years in a row. Nobody has accomplished this feat even once.

Most recently, in 2004, he broke the world records for the indoor 5000 m, outdoor 5,000 m. and outdoor 10,000 m.

  • 5,000 m. world record 12:37.35 Hengelo, Netherlands 31-05-2004 from compatriot Haile Gebrselassie at 12:39.36 13-06-1998
  • 10,000 m. world record 26:20.31 Ostrava, Czech Republic 08-06-2004 also from Gebrselassie at 5000m 26:22.75 06-01-1998

He is considered the heir to Haile Gebrselassie, widely considered to be the best distance runner in the history of mankind. In 2 of 3 encounters with Gebrselassie, Bekele has taken the win.

In the 10,000 m. at the 2004 Summer Olympics Kenenisa took the title away from his compatriot Haile Gebrselassie who looked past his best, trailing in in fifth place.


Olympic medalists in athletics (men) | Olympic Champions in Men's 5 miles and 10000 m
As five miles: Henry Hawtrey | Emil Voigt
As 10,000 metres: Hannes Kolehmainen | Paavo Nurmi (twice) | Ville Ritola | Janusz Kusociński | Ilmari Salminen | Emil Zátopek (twice) | Vladimir Kuts | Pyotr Bolotnikov | Billy Mills | Naftali Temu | Lasse Virén (twice) | Muruse Yefter | Alberto Cova | Brahim Boutayeb | Khalid Skah | Haile Gebrselassie (twice) | Kenenisa Bekele




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