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Genzebe Dibaba

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Genzebe Dibaba is a famous middle- and long-distance runner from Ethiopia.

Genzebe Dibaba Istanbul 2012
Genzebe Dibaba Istanbul 2012

She comes from a very talented sporting family. Her sisters, Tirunesh and Ejegayehu, are both great athletes. Her cousin, Derartu Tulu, won Olympic gold medals in the 10,000 meters. Even her brother, Dejene, is a runner. Genzebe belongs to the Oromo ethnic group. She grew up in the high altitude Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region. This background helped her become a star on the track.

Women's 1500 m podium Beijing 2015
Women's 1500 m podium Beijing 2015

Running is a sport of speed and endurance. Genzebe competes in many different races. She runs the 1,500 meters and the 5,000 meters on outdoor tracks. She also runs indoor races like the mile and the 3,000 meters. In 2014, she showed how fast she could be. She broke the world indoor record for the 1,500 meters in Karlsruhe, Germany. Just five days later, she broke the 3,000 meters record in Stockholm, Sweden. Finally, she broke the two-mile record in Birmingham, England. This was a very hard job to do.

Genzebe Dibaba by Augustas Didzgalvis
Genzebe Dibaba by Augustas Didzgalvis

Genzebe started her career as a junior athlete. In 2008, she was only 17 years old. She won her first World Cross Country Championships under-20 title that year. She also won a silver medal at the World U20 Championships. In 2009, she joined the Ethiopian team for the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. She finished eighth in her first major senior championship race. By 2010, she won the 5,000 meters gold at the World Junior Championships. She was the second junior woman ever to win two cross country titles in a row.

Genzebe Dibaba Sopot 2014
Genzebe Dibaba Sopot 2014

Her career is full of amazing numbers and big wins. She won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 1,500 meters. In 2015, she won gold in the 1,500 meters at the World Championships in Beijing. She also won a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters at that same event. Genzebe is a five-time World Indoor champion. She won the 1,500 meters in 2012 and 2018. She also won the 3,000 meters in 2014 and 2016. She was named the IAAF World Female Athlete of the Year in 2015.

Genzebe Dibaba, BG2015
Genzebe Dibaba, BG2015

Genzebe has even tried much longer races. In 2020, she ran her first half marathon in Valencia. It was the fastest debut by a woman at that time. In 2022, she ran her first full marathon in Amsterdam. She finished in second place. This was one of the top 20 fastest times ever recorded. She continues to show her skill in many different types of running. Whether it is a short sprint or a long marathon, she is a true champion.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Genzebe Dibaba Istanbul 2012.jpg
Genzebe Dibaba Istanbul 2012.jpg
File:Genzebe Dibaba Sopot 2014.jpg
Genzebe Dibaba Sopot 2014.jpg
File:Genzebe Dibaba, BG2015.JPG
Genzebe Dibaba, BG2015.JPG
File:Women's 1500 m podium Beijing 2015.jpg
Women's 1500 m podium Beijing 2015.jpg
File:Genzebe Dibaba by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg
Genzebe Dibaba by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg
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