Kenenisa Bekele
Encyclopedia
Kenenisa Bekele (Amharic:ቀነኒሳ በቀለ; born June 13, 1982 in Oromia Region
, Ethiopia
) is an Ethiopian long-distance
runner
, who holds the world record and Olympic record in both the 5000 metres
and 10,000 metres events. He is the reigning Olympic champion over 5000 metres and two time champion over 10,000 metres and the most accomplished runner in IAAF World Cross Country Championships
history, with six long (12K) course and five short (4K) course titles. Bekele was unbeaten over 10,000 m from 2003 until his first loss in 2011, and with his vast array of medals, many consider him to be one of the greatest distance runners of all time.
He is the older brother of Tariku Bekele
, also an accomplished distance runner.
, in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia, the same town as the Dibaba sisters; Ejegayehu
, Tirunesh
and Genzebe
, and their cousin Derartu Tulu
.
In August 2001 he set a new 3000 metres
World Junior Record, 7:30.67 in Brussels
. The record was broken by Augustine Choge
four years later.
For five years in a row, from 2002 through 2006, he took both short (4K) and long (12K) races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships
, a feat no other runner has accomplished even once. In 2004, he broke the world records for the indoor 5000 m, outdoor 5000 m and outdoor 10,000 m.
Kenenisa is renowned for his ability to accelerate very quickly at the end of a long distance race; in Oslo
in June 2003, Bekele chased after Kenya
n Abraham Chebii
and ran a 54.64 final 400 to win the race in 12:52.26. Again in Lausanne
on 1 July 2003, Kenenisa recorded a 200 m segment during the last lap in 24 seconds and a 100 m section in 11.xx seconds to run a 52.63 final lap.
Kenenisa has faced his mentor Haile Gebrselassie
once in road competition, once in cross country, and six times on the track. Haile defeated Kenenisa on the track in the 2000 Nurnberg 5000 metres, the 2001 Great Ethiopian Run 10 km, and the Cross de l'Acier in December 2001, but lost to Kenenisa in Hengelo
2003 over 10,000 m (26:53 to 26:54), Rome 2003 over 5000 m (12:57 to 13:00), Paris 2003 World Championships
over 10,000 m (26:49 to 26:50), Athens 2004 Olympic Games (27:05 to 27:27), and in the 10,000 m in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (27:01 to 27:06).
was performed, Alem and Kenenisa's manager, Jos Hermens
, later said that an autopsy had revealed nothing conclusive about the young woman's death. She was the 2003 World Youth Champion in the 1500 metres
and in excellent physical condition.
Over the next several weeks following Alem's death, Kenenisa grieved. He resumed racing on 29 January, and lost indoors over 3000 m to South Africa
n Irishman
Alistair Cragg after sprinting towards the line with one and a half laps to go, while thinking that there was only half a lap left. Such confusion was presumed to have been caused by his grief. A few weeks later he lost to fellow Ethiopian Markos Geneti
over 2 miles. In March, Kenenisa faced his toughest challenge yet. Despite his grief and recent losses on the track, he lined up to defend his long and short course titles at the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
. In dramatic fashion, Kenenisa bested the field in the short course despite a fast pace set by Qatar
i Saif Saaeed Shaheen
. He followed that win with a long course victory the next day over Eritrea
n Zersenay Tadese and Kenyan rival Eliud Kipchoge
. The 2005 World Cross Country double victory is considered by many to be the most amazing of Kenenisa's career to date.
On 8 August 2005, Kenenisa Bekele won the gold medal
in the 10,000 m at the 2005 World Championships
in Helsinki with a stunning last 200 m spurt.
On 26 August 2005, Kenenisa set the current 10,000 m world record 26:17.53 at the 29th Memorial Van Damme
meeting – TDK Golden League – in Brussels, Belgium, slicing nearly 3 seconds off his previous world record 26:20.31, and running with 5000 m halves of 13:09 and 13:08. At the end of 2005 Bekele was voted the Track & Field News
magazine athlete of the year for the second year in a row.
When Kenenisa won the 3000 m at the World Indoor Track & Field Championships in Moscow
on 12 March 2006, he became the first athlete in history to be Olympic champion, world outdoor track champion, world indoor track champion, and world cross country champion.
In 2006 he won five out of six ÅF Golden League events (5000 m) in the same season, which earned him a total of $83,333.
On 17 February 2007, he broke the indoor world record over 2000 m in Birmingham
, UK
, with a time of 4:49.99. His spectacular final 300 m aided this time which would be considered excellent even outdoors.
On 24 March 2007, however, his remarkable racing streak of 27 consecutive victories in cross country races (dating back to his last previous loss in December 2001) came to an end when after leading the race in the penultimate lap of the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
in Mombasa
he succumbed to the very hot, humid conditions (which caused more than 1/6 of all competitors to drop out) and was passed by eventual winner Zersenay Tadese on the last lap before Kenenisa dropped out. This was greeted with cheers by the Kenyan crowds, an occurrence which has been frowned upon by the wider athletics community.
He recovered from that rare failure to take the 10,000 metres title at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka
, once again besting his compatriot Sileshi Sihine
. During that race, he looked like he was going to be dropped several times over the last 800 metres, but recovered to overtake Sileshi with 150 metres to go and take his third straight world title.
On 18 November 2007, Kenenisa married Ethiopian film actress Danawit Gebregziabher at the Sheraton Addis, in Addis Ababa.
In Edinburgh on 30 March 2008, Bekele won his 6th World Cross Country title (long course – 12k), breaking the three way tie of 5 wins he had previously shared with Paul Tergat
and John Ngugi
. With this win, Kenenisa laid sole claim to most decorated athlete in IAAF World Cross Country Championships
history. He has won 6 long course (12k) individual gold medals, 5 short course (4k) gold medals, 1 junior championship (8k), and 4 team gold medals for a sum total of 16 gold medals. His overall medal count (both individual and team results) stands at 27 medals: 16 gold, 9 silver and 2 bronze.
On 23 August 2008 Kenenisa bested his competitors and won the 5000 m finals, shattering Saïd Aouita
's Olympic Record by almost eight seconds with a time of 12:57.82. The race was remarkable for Kenenisa's manner of doing most of the pacing himself before accelerating to a scintillating finish: his last 3000 metres only took 7:35.53, his final 2000 metres 4:56.97, last 1600 metres 3:57.01 (=3:58.6 final mile) and his final lap a punishing 53.87 seconds.
By winning the 10,000/5000 m double in the Beijing Olympics, Kenenisa joined another elite group of athletes: Hannes Kolehmainen
(1912), Emil Zátopek
(1952), Vladimir Kuts
(1956), Lasse Virén
(twice, in 1972 and 1976), and Miruts Yifter
(1980).
, held in Berlin. His double victories in 5000 m (13:17.09) and 10,000 m (26:46.31 - a World Championships Record) were unprecedented and by doing this became the first man to take both the long distance track gold medals at the same World Championships. His talent combination of endurance and speed has made it nearly impossible to defeat Kenenisa when he is in full strength. During the 10,000m race in which Kenenisa was running behind Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse, the broadcaster declared "it is over, in fact it was over from the start" as the final lap began and Kenenisa returned a close race into a blowout. The IAAF announcer concluded, "this man is probably the greatest distance runner we will ever see." Ethiopia Kenenisa vs Eritrea Zersenay tadesse In spite of his unrivaled success in athletics, he did not experience the mainstream appeal that others such as Haile Gebrselassie did. His quiet demeanour and aversion to interviews did not make him a highly marketable athlete in the Western world
. Fellow world record holder Usain Bolt
stated that Bekele's achievements had not received the recognition that they deserved.
Bekele made a disappointing start to the new year, finishing 4th in the Cross Country International at Edinburgh
, in a race he was favored to win. The conditions out on the course did not appear to be favorable to him, with several inches of snow settled over the park. After staying with the lead group for the first few kilometers, team running by a trio of talented Kenyan athletes ran him out of the contest over the last few long laps. Bekele spent the entirety of the indoor and outdoor seasons out, with a ruptured calf muscle. He returned to competition in 2011.
Bekele finally returned to training from a knee injury in March 2011. Having not raced on the track since 2009, Bekele returned for the World Championships. But Bekele dropped out of the 10,000m after 10 laps. Bekele decided not to run the 5,000m. Bekele returned to the Diamond League at the Ivo Van Damme Memorial in Brussels where he set the fastest time in the world for the 10,000 metres in 2011.
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
) is an Ethiopian long-distance
Long-distance track event
Long-distance track event races require runners to balance their energy. These types of races are predominantly aerobic in nature and at the highest level, exceptional levels of aerobic endurance is required more than anything else...
runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
, who holds the world record and Olympic record in both the 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
and 10,000 metres events. He is the reigning Olympic champion over 5000 metres and two time champion over 10,000 metres and the most accomplished runner in IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
history, with six long (12K) course and five short (4K) course titles. Bekele was unbeaten over 10,000 m from 2003 until his first loss in 2011, and with his vast array of medals, many consider him to be one of the greatest distance runners of all time.
He is the older brother of Tariku Bekele
Tariku Bekele
Tariku Bekele is an Ethiopian long-distance runner, who specializes in the 5000 metres. He is the younger brother of Kenenisa Bekele. He is the fourth fastest Ethiopian ever over 5000 m and 3000 metres...
, also an accomplished distance runner.
History
Kenenisa was born in 1982 at BekojiBekoji (woreda)
Bekoji is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone, Bekoji is bordered on the south by Gedeb, on the southwest by Kofele, on the west by Munesa, on the north by Digeluna Tijo, on the east by Sherka, and on the southeast by the Shebelle River which separates it...
, in the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
of Ethiopia, the same town as the Dibaba sisters; Ejegayehu
Ejegayehu Dibaba
Ejegayehu Dibaba is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.She is a member of the Oromo ethnic group from the high-altitude Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region. She is the third child of six, her younger sisters Tirunesh and Genzebe are also international long distance athletes, and brother Dejene is marked...
, Tirunesh
Tirunesh Dibaba
Tirunesh Dibaba also known as Tirunesh Dibaba Kenene is an Ethiopian long distance track athlete and the outdoor 5000 metres world record holder. She is the current Olympic 5000 metres and 10,000 metres champion...
and Genzebe
Genzebe Dibaba
Genzebe Dibaba is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. She is the sister of World Champion Tirunesh Dibaba and Olympic silver medallist Ejegayehu Dibaba, and the cousin of former Olympic champion Derartu Tulu....
, and their cousin Derartu Tulu
Derartu Tulu
Derartu Tulu is an Ethiopian long distance track, road and marathon athlete.Derartu , a member of the Oromo ethnic group, grew up tending cattle in the village of Bekoji in the highlands of Arsi Province...
.
In August 2001 he set a new 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
World Junior Record, 7:30.67 in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. The record was broken by Augustine Choge
Augustine Choge
Augustine Kiprono Choge is a Kenyan middle distance and long distance runner.He won world youth and junior titles on the track in 2003 and 2004, eventually going on to set a world junior record for the 3000 metres in 2005...
four years later.
For five years in a row, from 2002 through 2006, he took both short (4K) and long (12K) races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
, a feat no other runner has accomplished even once. In 2004, he broke the world records for the indoor 5000 m, outdoor 5000 m and outdoor 10,000 m.
Kenenisa is renowned for his ability to accelerate very quickly at the end of a long distance race; in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in June 2003, Bekele chased after Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n Abraham Chebii
Abraham Chebii
Abraham Kosgei Chebii is a Kenyan runner who specializes in the 5000 metres. His personal best time is 12:52.99 minutes, achieved in June 2003 in Oslo....
and ran a 54.64 final 400 to win the race in 12:52.26. Again in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
on 1 July 2003, Kenenisa recorded a 200 m segment during the last lap in 24 seconds and a 100 m section in 11.xx seconds to run a 52.63 final lap.
Kenenisa has faced his mentor Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon...
once in road competition, once in cross country, and six times on the track. Haile defeated Kenenisa on the track in the 2000 Nurnberg 5000 metres, the 2001 Great Ethiopian Run 10 km, and the Cross de l'Acier in December 2001, but lost to Kenenisa in Hengelo
Hengelo
Hengelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands, in the province of Overijssel. The city lies along the motorways A1/E30 and A35 and it has a station for the International Amsterdam – Hannover – Berlin service.-Traffic and transport:...
2003 over 10,000 m (26:53 to 26:54), Rome 2003 over 5000 m (12:57 to 13:00), Paris 2003 World Championships
2003 World Championships in Athletics
The 9th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held from 23 August to 31 August 2003 in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Track:...
over 10,000 m (26:49 to 26:50), Athens 2004 Olympic Games (27:05 to 27:27), and in the 10,000 m in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (27:01 to 27:06).
2005 – 2008
On 4 January 2005, Kenenisa's fiancee, 18-year-old Alem Techale, died of an apparent heart attack while on a training run with him. Although it was initially stated that no autopsyAutopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
was performed, Alem and Kenenisa's manager, Jos Hermens
Jos Hermens
Josephus Maria Melchior Hermens is a former Dutch long-distance runner, also known for his latter career as a sports manager....
, later said that an autopsy had revealed nothing conclusive about the young woman's death. She was the 2003 World Youth Champion in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
and in excellent physical condition.
Over the next several weeks following Alem's death, Kenenisa grieved. He resumed racing on 29 January, and lost indoors over 3000 m to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Irishman
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Alistair Cragg after sprinting towards the line with one and a half laps to go, while thinking that there was only half a lap left. Such confusion was presumed to have been caused by his grief. A few weeks later he lost to fellow Ethiopian Markos Geneti
Markos Geneti
Markos Geneti is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who previously competed in track running, but now is a road specialist....
over 2 miles. In March, Kenenisa faced his toughest challenge yet. Despite his grief and recent losses on the track, he lined up to defend his long and short course titles at the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held 19-20 March 2005 in Saint-Étienne and Saint-Galmier , France.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :...
. In dramatic fashion, Kenenisa bested the field in the short course despite a fast pace set by Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
i Saif Saaeed Shaheen
Saif Saaeed Shaheen
Saif Saaeed Shaheen formerly Stephen Cherono is a steeplechase runner now representing Qatar. He currently holds the world record for 3000 metre steeplechase. His older brother Abraham Cherono is also a steeplechase runner.He was the 1999 World Youth Champion in the steeplechase and set a world...
. He followed that win with a long course victory the next day over Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
n Zersenay Tadese and Kenyan rival Eliud Kipchoge
Eliud Kipchoge
Eliud Kipchoge is a Kenyan long distance runner who has won medals at Olympic and World level....
. The 2005 World Cross Country double victory is considered by many to be the most amazing of Kenenisa's career to date.
On 8 August 2005, Kenenisa Bekele won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the 10,000 m at the 2005 World Championships
2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
in Helsinki with a stunning last 200 m spurt.
On 26 August 2005, Kenenisa set the current 10,000 m world record 26:17.53 at the 29th Memorial Van Damme
Memorial Van Damme
Memorial van Damme is an annual athletics event at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium that takes place in late August or early September...
meeting – TDK Golden League – in Brussels, Belgium, slicing nearly 3 seconds off his previous world record 26:20.31, and running with 5000 m halves of 13:09 and 13:08. At the end of 2005 Bekele was voted the Track & Field News
Track & Field News
Track & Field News is a magazine founded in 1948 by brothers Bert Nelson & Cordner Nelson, focused on the world of track and field.The magazine provides coverage of athletics in the U.S.A. from the high school to national level as well as covering the sport on an international bases. The magazine...
magazine athlete of the year for the second year in a row.
When Kenenisa won the 3000 m at the World Indoor Track & Field Championships in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
on 12 March 2006, he became the first athlete in history to be Olympic champion, world outdoor track champion, world indoor track champion, and world cross country champion.
In 2006 he won five out of six ÅF Golden League events (5000 m) in the same season, which earned him a total of $83,333.
On 17 February 2007, he broke the indoor world record over 2000 m in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, with a time of 4:49.99. His spectacular final 300 m aided this time which would be considered excellent even outdoors.
On 24 March 2007, however, his remarkable racing streak of 27 consecutive victories in cross country races (dating back to his last previous loss in December 2001) came to an end when after leading the race in the penultimate lap of the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held in Mombasa, Kenya on 24 March, 2007. Four races took place, one for men, women, junior men and junior women respectively. All races encompassed both individual and team competition...
in Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
he succumbed to the very hot, humid conditions (which caused more than 1/6 of all competitors to drop out) and was passed by eventual winner Zersenay Tadese on the last lap before Kenenisa dropped out. This was greeted with cheers by the Kenyan crowds, an occurrence which has been frowned upon by the wider athletics community.
He recovered from that rare failure to take the 10,000 metres title at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, once again besting his compatriot Sileshi Sihine
Sileshi Sihine
Sileshi Sihine is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.Sihine achieved a silver medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as at the 2005 World Championships and 2007 World Championships as well as a bronze medal in 2003...
. During that race, he looked like he was going to be dropped several times over the last 800 metres, but recovered to overtake Sileshi with 150 metres to go and take his third straight world title.
On 18 November 2007, Kenenisa married Ethiopian film actress Danawit Gebregziabher at the Sheraton Addis, in Addis Ababa.
In Edinburgh on 30 March 2008, Bekele won his 6th World Cross Country title (long course – 12k), breaking the three way tie of 5 wins he had previously shared with Paul Tergat
Paul Tergat
Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many...
and John Ngugi
John Ngugi
John Ngugi Kamau , is a former Kenyan athlete, often called one of the greatest cross country runners of all time and winner of the 5000 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics.-Career:...
. With this win, Kenenisa laid sole claim to most decorated athlete in IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
history. He has won 6 long course (12k) individual gold medals, 5 short course (4k) gold medals, 1 junior championship (8k), and 4 team gold medals for a sum total of 16 gold medals. His overall medal count (both individual and team results) stands at 27 medals: 16 gold, 9 silver and 2 bronze.
2008 Beijing Olympics
On 17 August 2008 Kenenisa won gold in the 10,000 m finals with a time of 27:01.17, setting a new Olympic Record in the process. In a race in which 20 men broke the 28 minute barrier and four finished under Bekele's 2004 Olympic record of 27:05.10, he needed his renowned finishing kick to pull out the victory, running a 53.42 second final 400 metres (similar to the 53 second final 400 meter sprint he used to win the gold medal in Athens in 2004 over the same distance).On 23 August 2008 Kenenisa bested his competitors and won the 5000 m finals, shattering Saïd Aouita
Said Aouita
Saïd Aouita is a former Moroccan athlete, winner of 5000 meters at the 1984 Summer Olympics, 5000 meters at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics, 3000 meters at the 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships, and former world record holder at 1500m , 2000m , 3000m , and twice at 5000m [ and ]...
's Olympic Record by almost eight seconds with a time of 12:57.82. The race was remarkable for Kenenisa's manner of doing most of the pacing himself before accelerating to a scintillating finish: his last 3000 metres only took 7:35.53, his final 2000 metres 4:56.97, last 1600 metres 3:57.01 (=3:58.6 final mile) and his final lap a punishing 53.87 seconds.
By winning the 10,000/5000 m double in the Beijing Olympics, Kenenisa joined another elite group of athletes: Hannes Kolehmainen
Hannes Kolehmainen
Juho Pietari "Hannes" Kolehmainen was a Finnish long-distance runner. He is considered to be the first of a generation of great Finnish long distance runners, often named the "Flying Finns". Kolehmainen competed for a number of years in the United States, wearing the Winged Fist of the Irish...
(1912), Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life...
(1952), Vladimir Kuts
Vladimir Kuts
Vladimir Petrovich Kuts was a Soviet long distance runner. He is alternatively known as Volodymyr Kuts, the Ukrainian spelling, as Kuts was born in Aleksino, which is in present-day Ukraine....
(1956), Lasse Virén
Lasse Virén
Lasse Artturi Virén is a former Finnish long-distance runner, winner of four gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics...
(twice, in 1972 and 1976), and Miruts Yifter
Miruts Yifter
Miruts Yifter ]] is a former Ethiopian athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics. His name is also sometimes spelled as Muruse Yefter....
(1980).
2009–Present
Kenenisa won two gold medals at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
, held in Berlin. His double victories in 5000 m (13:17.09) and 10,000 m (26:46.31 - a World Championships Record) were unprecedented and by doing this became the first man to take both the long distance track gold medals at the same World Championships. His talent combination of endurance and speed has made it nearly impossible to defeat Kenenisa when he is in full strength. During the 10,000m race in which Kenenisa was running behind Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse, the broadcaster declared "it is over, in fact it was over from the start" as the final lap began and Kenenisa returned a close race into a blowout. The IAAF announcer concluded, "this man is probably the greatest distance runner we will ever see." Ethiopia Kenenisa vs Eritrea Zersenay tadesse In spite of his unrivaled success in athletics, he did not experience the mainstream appeal that others such as Haile Gebrselassie did. His quiet demeanour and aversion to interviews did not make him a highly marketable athlete in the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
. Fellow world record holder Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt
The Honourable Usain St. Leo Bolt, OJ, C.D. , is a Jamaican sprinter and a five-time World and three-time Olympic gold medalist. He is the world record and Olympic record holder in the 100 metres, the 200 metres and the 4×100 metres relay...
stated that Bekele's achievements had not received the recognition that they deserved.
Bekele made a disappointing start to the new year, finishing 4th in the Cross Country International at Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, in a race he was favored to win. The conditions out on the course did not appear to be favorable to him, with several inches of snow settled over the park. After staying with the lead group for the first few kilometers, team running by a trio of talented Kenyan athletes ran him out of the contest over the last few long laps. Bekele spent the entirety of the indoor and outdoor seasons out, with a ruptured calf muscle. He returned to competition in 2011.
Bekele finally returned to training from a knee injury in March 2011. Having not raced on the track since 2009, Bekele returned for the World Championships. But Bekele dropped out of the 10,000m after 10 laps. Bekele decided not to run the 5,000m. Bekele returned to the Diamond League at the Ivo Van Damme Memorial in Brussels where he set the fastest time in the world for the 10,000 metres in 2011.
Current world records (as of October 2008)
- 5000 m indoor world record 12:49.60 (BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, on 20 February 2004) - 5000 m world record 12:37.35 (HengeloHengeloHengelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands, in the province of Overijssel. The city lies along the motorways A1/E30 and A35 and it has a station for the International Amsterdam – Hannover – Berlin service.-Traffic and transport:...
, on 31 May 2004) - 10,000 m world record 26:17.53 (BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, on 26 August 2005, breaking his previous record of 26:20.31 from 8 June 2004) - 2000 m indoor world record 4:49.99 (Birmingham, on 17 February 2007)
- 2 mile indoor world best 8:04.35 (Birmingham, on 16 February 2008)
Personal bests
| Distance | Mark | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 m | 3:32.35 | 28 September 2007 | Shanghai Shanghai Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010... |
| 3000 m | 7:25.79 | 7 August 2007 | Stockholm Stockholm Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area... |
| 5000 m | 12:37.35 (WR) | 31 May 2004 | Hengelo Hengelo Hengelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands, in the province of Overijssel. The city lies along the motorways A1/E30 and A35 and it has a station for the International Amsterdam – Hannover – Berlin service.-Traffic and transport:... |
| 10,000 m | 26:17.53 (WR) | 26 August 2005 | Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... |
Major victories
- 2009 World Track Champion 5000 m, BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
- 2009 World Track Champion 10,000 m, BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
- 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Athletics 5000 m, BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
- 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Athletics 10,000 m, Beijing
- 2008 African Championships in Athletics 5000 m, Addis AbabaAddis AbabaAddis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
- 2008 World Cross Country Championships (12K), EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
- 2007 World Track Champion 10,000 m, OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
- 2006 African Championships in Athletics 5000 m, Bambous
- 2006 World Cross Country Champion in short race (4K), FukuokaFukuoka, Fukuokais the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
- 2006 World Cross Country Champion in long race (12K), Fukuoka
- 2006 World Indoor Track Champion 3000 m, Moscow
- 2005 World Cross Country Champion in short race (4K), Saint-ÉtienneSaint-ÉtienneSaint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon...
- 2005 World Cross Country Champion in long race (12K), Saint-Étienne
- 2005 World Track Champion 10,000 m, HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
- 2004 World Cross Country Champion in short race (4K), Brussels
- 2004 World Cross Country Champion in long race (12K), Brussels
- 2004 Olympic Champion 10,000 m, AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
- 2003 World Cross Country Champion in short race (4K), AvenchesAvenchesAvenches is a Swiss municipality in the canton of Vaud, located in the district of Broye-Vully.-History:The roots of Avenches go back to the Celts...
- 2003 World Cross Country Champion in long race (12K), Avenches
- 2003 World Track Champion 10,000 m, Paris
- 2002 World Cross Country Champion in short race (4K), Dublin
- 2002 World Cross Country Champion in long race (12K), Dublin
- 2001 World Junior Cross Country Champion 8000 m
External links
- The Official Kenenisa Bekele Website
- Kenenisa Bekele Webpage
- Beijing 2008 Men 10000 m – EthioTube Video
- Beijing 2008 Men 5000 m – EthioTube Video
- IAAF: Focus on Athletes