22 year old Ethiopian distance running sensation. Bekele has won the World Cross Country Championships'
short course (4k) and the
long course (12k) together in the last three years. Previously, this had never been done at all, let alone by someone so young. Bekele proved himself on the
track at the 2003 World Championships by winning the 10k. In
2004, within a period of
8 days, he eclipsed his fellow countryman Haile Gebrselassie's 5k and 10k records by approximately 2 seconds each. In both races he had no one to challenge him, and the rabbits did not do their
job properly, so it is generally assumed that he will continue to lower his own world record. He recently won the Olympic gold medal in the 10k in olympic record
time (27:05). He was so dominant that he ran the last lap in 53 seconds and said "It was no problem for me" after the race. He is the favorite in the upcoming 5k Olympic Final which will be one of the most competitive distance races of all
time featuring Bekele, 20 year old Ethiopian prodigy Sileshi Sihine who won silver in the Olympic 10k, world champion Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and world
runner-up at 5k and world champ at 1500 from Morocco Hicham El Guerrouj. If Bekele wins, he will be the first to complete the 5k and 10k double since Miruts Yifter, also from Ethiopia, in 1980.
Height: ~
5'4
Weight: ~120 lbs.
Date of Birth: June
13, 1982
Place of Birth: Bekoji, Arsi Province (Ethiopia)
5k
PR: 12:37.35 (World Record)
10k PR: 26:20.31 (World Record)
Jose Contreras: Haile Gebrselassie may be the greatest distance
runner of all
time with 17 world records.
Bruce Lee: ya but Kenenisa Bekele will be the greatest of all
time eventually... he has the versatility of Geb on the track, but what sets him apart is his success in cross country as well, which Geb never had.
