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Ethiopia has some of the finest athletes of the world, most notably middle-distance and long-distance runners. Kenya and Morocco are often its opponents in World Championships and Olympic middle and long-distance events. As of March 2006, two Ethiopians dominate the long-distance running scene, mainly: Haile Gebreselassie (World champion and Olympic champion) who has set over twenty new world records and currently holds the 20 km, half-marathon and 25 km world record, and young Kenenisa Bekele (World champion, World cross country champion, and Olympic champion), who holds the 5,000 m and 10,000 m world records.

Other notable Ethiopian distance-runners include Derartu Tulu, Abebe Bikila and Miruts Yifter. Derartu Tulu was the first Ethiopian woman from Africa to win an Olympic gold medal, doing so over 10,000 metres at Barcelona. Abebe Bikila won the Olympic marathon in 1960 and 1964, setting world records both times. He is well-known to this day for winning the 1960 marathon in Rome while running barefoot. Miruts Yifter, the first in a tradition of Ethiopians known for their brilliant finishing speed, won gold at 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the Moscow Olympics. He is the last man to achieve this feat.

Abebe was born in 1932 in a town called Jato about 130 kms away from Addis Ababa, in the district of NeA Denba near Debre Birhan. His parents were W/o Widnesh Menberu and Ato Bikila Demssie. According to the tradition of his enviorns, he spent most of his childhood as a shepherd and a student. At the age of 12, he completed the traditional, "Qes" schooling. At this age, Abebe had already distinguished himself as an exceptional "Gena" player. In 1952, young Abebe was hired by the Imperial Body Guard. At the Imperial Guard, he participated in both athletics and "Gena" game. In 1954, he married W/t Yewibdar W/Giorghis with whom he fathered four children.

Abebe spent a number of years with the Imperial Guard before he distinguished himself as a fine athlete. His defining moment came when, once, he was watching a parade of Ethiopian athletes who had then participated in the Melbourne Olympics. Looking at these athletes who were wearing a sport outfit with the name "Ethiopia" written at the back, he asked who they were. When told that they were athletes who represented Ethiopia in the Olympics, he was determined to be one of them. In 1956, at the age of 24, Abebe participated in the national armed forces championships. The hero of the time was Wami Biratu who held the national records in 5000 and 10000M races. During the marathon race, the crowd at the stadium was waiting to see Wami Biratu come as a winner. In the first few kilometers, Wami was leading. After a while, radio broadcasters informed the crowd that a young unknown athlete by the name of Abebe was leading. As Abebe was extending his lead, the crowd waited anxiously to see this new sensation. Abebe easily won his first major race and later on went to break the 5000 and 10000 Meters record held by Wami. With this impressive results, Abebe qualified for the Rome Olympics. Finally, Abebe’s dream of wearing that sport outfit with Ethiopia’s name written at the back was realized.

Abebe’s race in the Rome Olympics is what established him as a legend bigger than life and a household name all over the globe. Not only he won the race, but also set a new world record at 2:16:2. He was also the first African to win an Olympics medal. Commenting on why he run on bare foot, Abebe said, "I wanted the world to know that my country Ethiopia has always won with determination and heroism."

Four years later during the Tokyo Olympics, Abebe’s fame has already reached all corners of the globe. Six weeks before the big race that awaited him, Abebe was taken ill with Appendicitis. He underwent surgery amid a public outcry for a proper medical council to decide on the procedure. The day he arrived in Tokyo, Abebe hadn’t fully recovered from the surgery and limped his way-down the stairs. However, the reception Abebe received from the Japanese people helped him recover rather quickly and unexpectedly.

Along with his colleagues, Mamo Wolde and Demssie Wolde, Abebe resumed his regular training after few days of his arrival in Tokyo. The marathon race, particularly, the way Abebe won it barely six weeks after his surgery and the gymnastic display he showed right after finishing the race victoriously is now a classic image engraved in the minds of hundreds of millions of people of this planet. This was also the first time ever that the marathon race was won consecutively by an athlete. The new record of 2:12:11 that Abebe set was also an icing on a cake for this remarkable race.

Abebe trained hard for the Mexico City Olympics of 1968. Unfortunately, he had to withdraw from the race after running 15 kilometers due to bad health. His compatriot, Mamo Wolde would later finish the race victoriously.

Abebe had competed in more than 26 major marathon races in his illustrious athletic career. The world championships he won in 1960 and 1962 deserve special recognition.

In 1968, The legendary Abebe Bikila was involved in a car accident in the city of Sheno about 70 Km from Addis Ababa that left him paralyzed the waist below. Over the next 9 months, he was treated both in Ethiopia and abroad. Even while in wheels, Abebe’s competitive spirit and desire to see his country’s flag hoisted high and proud helped him compete and win several races. In 1970, he participated in a 25 Km cross-country sledge competition in Norway where he won the gold medal. Again, in the same tournament, he won a similar 10 Km race where he was awarded a special plaque.

The illustrious life of the legendary Abebe Bikila came to a tragic end in October of 1973 when he finally succumbed to a disease he had battled for many months. This eternal Ethiopian hero was buried in the grounds of the St. Joseph church in the presence of a huge crowd and the then emperor, Atse Haile Selassie.

Read more about Abebe Bikila

Not only is Ato Yidnekechew Tessema called the "Father of Modern Sport in Ethiopia" but also the "Father of Sport in Africa". Ato Yidnekachew is an extraordinary man with extraordinary contribution to the development and popularization of sport in Ethiopia and the rest of the African continent.

The son of Negadras Tessema Eshete, a legendary literary figure, Ato Yidnekachew was born in the city of Jimma in Southern Ethiopia on Ethiopia’s New Year day - Meskerem 1, 1914 (September 11, 1921). When he was four years old, the family moved back to Addis Ababa where young Yidnekachew attended school at the Teferi Mekonnen school. At school, Yidnekachew excelled in sports, particularly, soccer. Later in 1935, Yidnekachew joined the first Ethiopian soccer team-the St. George club. He also qualified to play in the national team.

In 1943, Yidnekachew opened the first sport federation with his colleague Amde Mikael Desalegn. Once the government recognized the importance of support for sport, Yidnekachew served his country and people in the capacities of secretary of the soccer and sport federation, president of national Olympics committee and commissioner of Sport federation.

Yidnekachew’s contribution to sport to the African continent started with his pioneering efforts and subsequent success in establishing the African Soccer Federation (CAF) in 1964. He served CAF as the deputy president between 1964-1972 and as the President between 1972 and 1987. He was also member of the African Sport Congress, International Olympics Committee, FIFA and President of the African Olympics Committee.

Yidnekachew worked and fought hard to make sure that sport brought peace and understanding between people. He was strongly opposed to accepting sport clubs based on race and religion. He was also opposed to commercial advertisements by tobacco and alcohol companies in stadiums and sport events. Yidnekachew’s contribution for the anti-Apartheid movement by preventing the then South Africa from participating in African and world sport events is legendary.

In his long career, Yidnekachew was awarded numerous medals and awards by the Ethiopian government and foreign governments.

Yidnekachew died on August 20, 1987 after a long illness. He is survived by his children and wife.

Mamo Wolde was born in the village of DreDele in the Ad-A district about 60 Km from Addis Ababa from his parents Ato Wolde Degaga and W/O Geneme Gobena.

Mamo grew up in a traditional upbringing spending most of his childhood in DreDele where he attended a "qes" schooling. In June of 1951, he was hired by the Imperial Body Guard. While at the prestigious armed forces, Mamo was able to further his education. In 1953, he was transferred to the Second Battalion of the Imperial Guard and was sent to Korea as part of the UN peace-keeping mission. Mamo spent 2 years in Korea where he had a distinguished military service. After returning from Korea, Mamo got married and pursued his passion of athletics quite regularly.

Mamo easily qualified to be a member of the Ethiopian Olympics team that participated in the Melbourne Olympics in 1962. He had the overall best performance of the national Olympics team by becoming 4-th in 1500 meter race. In 1968, Mamo competed in the 10000 meters race along with the then favorite Kenyan athletes Kip Keno and Naphtaly Temo. 200 meters before the end of the race, Mamo went to the lead. He maintained the lead until almost the end whence he was overtaken by Naphtaly Temo of Kenya. Mamo won his first Silver Olympic medal. One day before the marathon race, the team trainer Negussie Roba approached Mamo and informed him that the legendary Abebe may not be able to finish the marathon race due to bad health. Coach Negussie told Mamo that he was the nation’s only hope for the next day’s marathon race and orders him to prepare. The next day, October 20, 1968 72 athletes from 44 countries started the long anticipated race. Abebe Bikila, Mamo Wolde and Demssie represented Ethiopia. Abebe later dropped out of the race at the 15-th Km after leading for the whole duration. Mamo later would muse: "At the 20-th Km, Coaches Negussie and Major Niskanen got out of their car and told me ‘You are Ethiopia’s only chance, Ayzoh Berta.’ "

Solomon Tessema, a legendary Sports journalist, was on one of the cars assigned for journalists and was furiously waving the national tri-color and encouraging Mamo with songs and words to complete the race with victory. With the departure of Abebe, the world had expected Australian and Japanese athletes to win the marathon. At the 25-th km, the Australian athlete quit the race. At the 30-th km, Mamo and his nemesis at the 10,000 meter race, the Kenyan Temo were running neck to neck. At the 33- rd km, Mamo took the lead. Solomon Tessema, from the journalist’s car, was shouting to Mamo telling him that he was the only one with the chance of winning. Mamo Wolde completed the race victoriously giving his country a third gold medal in Marathon. Mamo became an instant hero just like Abebe. Mamo was 35 when he won the Mexico City Marathon race. In 1972, Mamo participated in the Munich Olympics at the age of 39 where he won a bronze medal in the 10000 meter. 

In his athletic career, Mamo had participated in a total of 62 international competitions. The great athlete, Mamo died on 26th May 2002 aged 69.  

Haile Gebre Selassie is regarded universally as the greatest distance runner of all times. With a career that sees him breaking records as they are made, Haile has built an extraordinary reputation as an exceptional athlete who is setting a new level in long-distance running.

Haile was born in the province of Arsi in Central Ethiopia. Arsi is a fertile region in the central Ethiopian plateau that has produced great long-distant runners like Derartu Tulu, Fatuma Roba, and of course, Haile Gebreselassie. Haile was inspired by his countrymen, the Ethiopian marathon legend, Abebe Bikila and also 5k and 10k Olympic gold medalist Miruts Yifter. As a child he had to run 10 kilometers a day each way to go and come back from school. At age 16, without any formal training, he entered the Addis Ababa marathon, and finished in 2:42.

Haile rose to international prominence in 1992 when he won the 5000m and 10,000m World Junior championships. In 1993 at the Stuttgart World championships, he won the 10,000m and got second in the 5000m. Haile set his first World Record in the 5000m in 12:56.96 in Hengelo, Holland in 1994. By breaking the 6 year old world record of Said Aouita.

1995 established Haile as an unparalleled long-distance runner. He had a bad start due to mismanagement and bad leadership by the Athletics Federation which bungled the travel plans of the national athletics team in a race in England. Haile finished fourth. However, in May of the same year, Haile broke Moses Kiptanui's World Record in the 2 miles race by clocking 8:07.46. Only a week later, Haile broke the world record in 10K by clocking a new speed of 26:43.53 in a race in Hengelo, Holland. Haile won another victory in the World Championship 10,000m by earning a gold medal. A 12:44.39 record in the 5K race in Zurich, in August brought the number of world records broken by Haile to four. Before the end of the year, Haile had broken two world records; one in indoor 5K in 13:10.98, and another one in 3K in 7:30.72.

The following year (i.e., 1996), Haile devoted most of his time in preparing for the upcoming Atlanta Olympics where he wanted to repeat the double wins in 5K and 10K of his childhood idol, Miruts Yifter. In Atlanta in the 10K race, Haile followed Kenyan Paul Tergat around until the final lap, then he passed Tergat and went on for a gold medal, in an Olympic record time of 27:07.34. Tergat got silver in 27:08.17 and Salah Hissou of Morocco got bronze in 27:24.67. However, the hard track in the Atlanta Olympics custom made for sprinters hurt Haile's feet into leaving blisters. Haile, therefore, was unable to compete in the 5K and bring one more gold for his country.  

However, the win at the Olympics earned Haile a hero status along with the legendary Abebe Bikila, and Mamo Wolde. Haile won more record in the same year. In February of 1997 in Stuttgard, Germany, Haile set a new world record in 1500m by clocking 3:32.39. With this win and world record, Haile Gebrselassie showed excellent versatility by moving down and performing so well at an event he doesn't normally compete in. On Feb 20th Haile once again broke a world record by clocking 12:59.04 in indoor 5K race in Stockholm, Sweden. This was Haile’s 7th world record. 

In Hengelo, Holland on May 31st Haile and Noureddine Morceli went after a million dollars, which went to the winner who broke 8:00 minutes for the 2 mile race. However, Haile was by himself as Morceli dropped out in the middle, and ended up running 8:01.08, a world record; but out of the money. On July 4th 1997, in Oslo, Norway, Haile had an outstanding 10K race where he had a huge lead by himself, lapped the rest of the world class field , and set a new 10K world record at 26:31.32. In the following month, Haile Gebrselassie went and got another 10k World Championship to be followed by another in Zurich, on Aug 13th, 1997 where he once again won a 5K race by setting a new world in 12:41.86, three seconds better than his previous mark.

Haile starts the new millennium with a remarkable and unforgettable performance in winning his second gold medal at the 10,000m in the Sydney Olympics. He clocked a winning time of 27min.18.20sec. ahead of Paul Terget of Kenya.

The now legendary, Haile GebreSelassie continues to break new world records and smashing them as they are made. Haile has indicated that the highlight of his athletic career will be running and winning the Marathon, most probably in the Athens Olympics of 2004. That is a race the whole nation of Ethiopia and the rest of the athletic world are awaiting with an incredible amount of anticipation.

Derartu Tulu rose to fame and an Olympics history, when she convincingly won the women’s 10000 meters race in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. The scene of this 23 year old Ethiopian young lady winning this race and then draping herself with the national tri-color and doing a lap has placed her in the ranks of the eternal Ethiopian heroes Abebe Bikila, Mamo Wolde and Miruts Yifter.  

Dearatu was born in 1969 in the village of Bokoji in the Arsi region of central Ethiopia as a seventh child in a family of 10 children. Even in elementary school, Derartu excelled in horse riding competitions. Derartu’s first significant win came in a 400 meter race in her school where she out-run the school’s start male athlete. That along with a win in 800 meters race in her district convincingly put Derartu in a path of a successful career in Athletics. In 1988, Derartu represented the region of Arsi and competed in a national 1500 meters race where she won a bronze medal.

When she was 17, Derartu was hired by the Ethiopian Police Force. In 1989, she competed in her first international race of 6 kilometer cross-country in Norway but was 23rd. In a years time, though, she competed in the same race and won the Gold Medal. Derartu won international recognition and success in the 90’s. Her record-setting win in the 10,000 meter race in Bulgaria and her win in the same distance race in Cairo, Egypt are worth mentioning.

Derartu’s win in the 10,000 meter race in the Barcelona Olympics goes down in the History Books as the first gold-medal win ever by an African woman. Derartu is still winning races and bringing, the gold, silver and bronze medals to her people and country. In her short but on-going career, she has managed to win 35 gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze medals.

Athletics-Women's champion Roba runs in Boston for Ethiopia
By Sabrina Yohannes

BOSTON, April 19 (Reuters) - Ethiopia's Fatuma Roba, the defending women's champion in Monday's Boston marathon has accepted the responsibility of running for an entire nation.  Roba, the 1996 Olympic gold-medalist, is constantly reminded of her special place in the hearts of Ethiopians.

Presenting awards at the annual cross-country championships in Addis Ababa last year, she met Mohammed Ali, a coach from the city of Harer who came up to her gushing with admiration. ``My wife gave birth to a baby girl soon after the Olympics and I named her 'Fatuma' after you,'' he said.

``Abebe Bikila was the first to win an Olympic marathon for Ethiopia and Fatuma was the first from the women. This is my first daughter, so it fit perfectly,'' he explained.

``People call out to me in the streets in Ethiopia,'' says Roba. ``Sometimes, if there are a lot of people around me when I go to a store, I feel a bit intimidated. I used to be shy -- I still consider myself shy -- but I'm a little better now and I'm getting used to it.'' Roba won two marathons in the space of a year before the Atlanta Olympics -- in Marrakesh and in Rome.

She says she drew strength from her cheering, flag-waving supporters during her Olympic victory in two hours, 26 minutes and five seconds, and was fully satisfied after her win.

``Even if I never ran again, I would have been content,'' she says.

But what convinced her that she had to keep running was the reaction she got when she went back home -- a huge parade winding through the streets of Addis Ababa and cheered by thousands, followed by an official ceremony where Roba and her fellow medalists were given job promotions.

``The reaction I felt from people had a big impact on me,'' says Roba. ``I suddenly felt such a great sense of responsibility. I felt that I had to try to keep running, as long as I possibly could.''

Roba started running in her elementary school in the Arsi region that was once home also to Derartu Tulu and Haile Gebrselassie, 10,000-meter Olympic gold-medalists in 1992 and 1996 respectively.

Fatuma Roba was the fourth of eight children of subsistence farmers living in the rural countryside outside Bukeji, Derartu Tulu's hometown. Roba began winning 100-meter and 200-meter races and was chosen to represent her school in regional competitions.

``I knew of (1960 Olympic marathon winner) Abebe Bikila and (1968 winner) Mamo Wolde from the radio, so I thought I'd try it, too,'' she says. Unlike many rural women runners, Roba says she faced little objection from her Muslim family when she decided to take up the sport. Four years later, she moved to Addis Ababa and became a runner on the prison police force, where she remains today with the rank of major to which she was promoted after Atlanta.

She prepared for the Boston course both last year and this by running on the hills just outside Addis Ababa. It evidently paid off last year, since immediately after her victory she was asked about the big incline on the course and she made the instantaneous response: ``I've been told there is a big hill, but I didn't see it.''

Roba feels she is well-prepared again this year, although she says she has had occasional knee trouble including at the Tokyo marathon last autumn, when she finished fourth. She is not concerned about the threat of rain on Monday.

``As long as it doesn't get cold, it'll be fine,'' she says. ``I expect good results.''

So does the Ethiopian community of Boston. The immigrant residents of the city had held high hopes for Roba last year after witnessing her televised feat at Atlanta, and when she won in Boston, they were ready.

Late on the night of the race, after the official marathon celebrations, fans packed the Addis Red Sea Ethiopian restaurant, where an Ethiopian flag adorned the wall.

At a victory ceremony organized by sports and community associations, the athletes received trophies amid speeches and victory chants.

Said Derartu Tulu, who ran her first marathon in Boston then and placed fifth: ``It's good when the world sees this side of Ethiopia, instead of just the hardships.''

Hiwot Solomon, a Boston sixth-grader at the time, said she had been yelling ``Go, Fatuma!'' on the course and stayed up for the ceremony to get Roba's autograph.

Roba appreciated all the attention, and stayed in Boston for a week after the marathon. ``They all went out of their way, getting us awards and everything,'' she says. ``During that week, Ethiopians in Boston took us out for lunch, for dinner, sightseeing every day.''

The community is ready again this year, not only for Roba, but for 1996 New York City marathon silver medalist Turbo Tumo and two of Roba's running partners, Belay Wolashe and Senayt Teklu, who is not running in Boston but accompanied Roba.

All the athletes received many more invitations to celebrate the Ethiopian Orthodox Easter on Saturday night and Sunday than they could handle, and community groups have their Monday schedules full.

The marathon course is where many will be in the morning, but for the night, victory celebrations have already been planned.

Born: 1931
Occupation: Olympic Cyclist
Residency: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Thank you EthiopianMillennium.com for the video

Background: One of the first names associated with Ethiopian Cycling is Mr. Geremew Demboba. In his long and decorated Cycling career, he has won more than 26 cups and 32 gold and silver medals in both national and international competitions.