Bekele To Renew Rivalry With Kipchoge In Paris As Ethiopia Announces the Olympic Team

In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

  • Ethiopian running legend Kenenisa Bekele, 41, will return to the Olympics for the first time since 2012, joining a 10-member team for the Paris Games after securing his spot with a second-place finish at the London Marathon.
  • Bekele will compete alongside women’s world record holder Tigist Assefa, who made history with a 2:11:53 marathon in Berlin last year, and other top Ethiopian runners, with the men’s and women’s marathons scheduled for August 10 and 11, respectively.

Ethiopian running legend Kenenisa Bekele will return to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years after being named in a 10-member team for the Paris Games on Thursday. 

The 41-year-old last competed in the Olympics in London in 2012, where he finished fourth in the men’s 10,000m. 

Despite being overlooked for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, Bekele’s remarkable second-place finish at the London Marathon in April secured his spot for the Paris Games. 

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He will be joined by women’s world record holder Tigist Assefa, who also earned her place in the squad.

Bekele, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in the 5,000m and 10,000m, is set to renew his rivalry with reigning Olympic champion and former world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, who was named in the Kenyan team earlier this month. 

Their rivalry dates back to the 2003 Paris World Championships, where Kipchoge narrowly defeated Bekele in the 5,000m race.

Bekele transitioned to marathon running in April 2014, producing the sixth fastest debut over the distance in Paris, though his career has since been marred by injuries. 

Meanwhile, Assefa made history last September by becoming the first woman to run a marathon in under two hours and 12 minutes, setting a world record of 2:11:53 in Berlin. 

The 27-year-old Assefa, who finished second in London last month, will be competing in her first international championships in Paris.

Assefa will be joined in the women’s team by 2023 world marathon champion Amane Beriso and Megertu Alemu. 

The Ethiopian men’s team also includes Sisay Lemma, Valencia marathon champion Deresa Geleta, with 2023 New York marathon champion and 2022 world champion Tamirat Tola, and Eusedin Mohammed as standby reserves. 

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The women’s reserve team features 2022 world marathon champion Gotytom Gebresilase and Buze Diriba.

The men’s marathon at the Paris Olympics will take place on August 10, followed by the women’s race on August 11.

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