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Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopia
| | | | Destination: |
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Mark Thompson/Allsport
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2000 Sydney Olympics track and field competition |
| Traveling from: | |
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
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Personal: | | Age: |
26
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| Height: |
5'3"
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Gebrselassie is the premier distance runner in the world and a living legend in Ethiopia. Since 1994, he has set 15 world records in events ranging from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000. In December 1999, Track and Field News ranked him No. 1 in the 3,000 meter (for the third straight year), 5,000 meter (third straight) and the 10,000 meter (fifth in a row). Son of a farmer, he ran six miles each way to and from school.
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| Achievements: |
| 1999 | World Championships, champion, 10,000 meters |
| 1999 | World Indoor Championships, champion, 3,000 meters |
| 1999 | Oslo and Zurich Grand Prix events, champion, 5,000 meters |
| 1998 | Helsinki Grand Prix, champion, 5,000 meters (world record) |
| 1998 | Hengelo Grand Prix, champion, 10,000 meters (world record) |
| 1998 | Grand Prix Final, champion, 3,000 meters |
| 1997 | World Championships, champion, 10,000 meters |
| 1996 | Olympic Games, champion, 10,000 meters |
| 1996 | Zurich Grand Prix, 2nd, 5,000 meters |
| 1995 | World Championships, champion, 10,000 meters |
| 1993 | World Championships, champion, 10,000 meters |
| 1993 | World Championships, 2nd, 5,000 meters |
| 1992 | World Junior Championships, champion, 10,000 and 5,000 meters |
| Currently: | |
Gebrselassie, the subject of the 1999 Disney film "Endurance," typically runs twice a day, for a total of 18 miles. Known for his awesome kick, his training includes a lot of speed work. Unable to fulfill his desire for double gold in Atlanta (after the 10,000, he had terrible blisters and had to be pulled out of the 5,000), he is aiming for a double in Sydney.
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