Haile Gebrselassie
Personality of the monthAthlete

Haile Gebrselassie

When you run, the road is your best friend.

Edition · July 2026Ethiopia

Their story

Haile Gebrselassie is one of the greatest long-distance runners in history. He broke the world record in the 10,000 metres four times and set 27 world records across distances from 2,000 m to the marathon during his career. He is a two-time Olympic champion (10,000 m, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) and four-time World Championship gold medallist. After retiring, he became a successful businessman in Ethiopia, proving that athletic greatness can be the launchpad for a second act of societal impact.

Highlights

  • Two-time Olympic gold medallist (10,000 m: Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000)
  • 27 world records across track and road
  • 4x World Championship gold (10,000 m)
  • IAAF World Athlete of the Year (1998, 1999, 2000)
  • Successful entrepreneur and job creator in Ethiopia
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