Kenenisa Bekele Beyecha[4] (Oromo: Qananiisaa baqqalaa; Amharic: ቀነኒሳ በቀለ; born 13 June 1982) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. He was the world record holder in both the 5,000-metre and 10,000-metre from 2004 until 2020. He won the gold medal in both the 5,000 m and 10,000 m events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the 2004 Olympics, he won the gold medal in the 10,000 m and the silver medal in the 5,000 m.
He is the most successful runner in the history of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, with six long (12 km) course and five short (4 km) course titles. He won the 10,000 m title at the World Championships in Athletics in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 (matching Haile Gebrselassie's four in a row win streak). Kenenisa was unbeaten over 10,000 m from his debut in 2003 until 2011, when he failed to finish at the World Championships final.
At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics he became the first man to win both 5000 m and 10,000 m title at the same championships. Over 5000 m he has also won an Olympic silver (2004), World Championship bronze (2003), two African Championship titles and one All-Africa Games gold medal. He also won the 3000 metres title at the 2006 World Indoor Championships.
On 6 April 2014, he produced the sixth fastest marathon debut ever on a record-eligible course with his victory at the Paris Marathon, in a course record time of 2:05:04. On 25 September 2016, Kenenisa won the Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:03:03, a new personal best, then the third-fastest marathon of all time. On 29 September 2019, he again won the Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:01:41, two seconds slower than the then world record of 2:01:39 set by Eliud Kipchoge in the 2018 Berlin Marathon.[5] Considering his accomplishments in cross country, track, and road racing, many consider him to be the greatest distance runner of all time.[6][7][8]
Career
Early life and career
Kenenisa Bekele was born in 1982 at Bekoji, Arsi Zone, the same town as the Dibaba sisters (Ejegayehu, Tirunesh and Genzebe) and their cousin Derartu Tulu.[9]
In March 2001, he won the IAAF World Junior Cross Country title by a full 33 seconds.[10] Five months later, in August 2001, he set a new 3000 metres world junior record by running 7:30.67 minutes in Brussels. The record lasted for three and a half years, being broken by Augustine Choge with a run of 7:28.78 minutes.[11] In December 2000 and 2001 Kenenisa won the 15k roadrace Montferland Run in the Netherlands.[12]
For five years in a row, from 2002 (at the age of 19) through 2006, he took both short (4 km) and long (12 km) races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, a feat no other runner has accomplished even once.[13] After the IAAF eliminated the short course race in 2007, Kenenisa won a final long course race in 2008, bringing his World Cross Country medal totals to 11 senior individual gold medals (6 long course, 5 short course), 1 senior silver medal (2001), 1 junior gold medal (2001), 2 team gold medals (2004, 2005), 3 team silver medals (2002, 2003, & 2008), and 1 team bronze medal (2006) for a grand total of 19 medals.[12]
Kenenisa is renowned for his ability to accelerate very quickly at the end of a long-distance race; in Oslo in June 2003, he chased after Kenyan Abraham Chebii and won the race in 12:52.26.[12]
He has faced fellow Ethiopian, Haile Gebrselassie, twice in road competition, once in cross country, and six times on the track. Haile defeated Kenenisa on the track in the 2000 Nurnberg 5000 metres, the 2001 Great Ethiopian Run 10 km, and the Cross de l'Acier in December 2001, but lost to Kenenisa in Hengelo 2003 over 10,000 m (26:53 to 26:54), Rome 2003 over 5000 m (12:57 to 13:00), Paris 2003 World Championships over 10,000 m (26:49 to 26:50), Athens 2004 Olympic Games (27:05 to 27:27), in the 10,000 m in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (27:01 to 27:06), and in the Great North Run half marathon in September 2013 (60:09 to 60:41).
Kenenisa's outstanding track career led to his involvement in a project to break the two-hour barrier for the marathon, though a number of factors undermined this effort.[14]
2004 season
In 2004, he broke the world records for the indoor 5000 m, outdoor 5000 m and outdoor 10,000 m (both in a timeframe of 9 days).[15] He won the short and long course world cross country titles, leading Ethiopia to the senior men's team title. He also won a gold medal in the men's 10,000 metres and a silver medal in the men's 5000 metres in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.[16]
2005 season
On 4 January 2005, Kenenisa's fiancée, 18-year-old Alem Techale, died of an apparent heart attack while on a training run with him. Although it was initially stated that no autopsy was performed, Alem's and Kenenisa's manager Jos Hermens later said that an autopsy had revealed nothing conclusive about Techale's death. She was the 2003 World Youth Champion in the 1500 metres and in excellent physical condition.[17]
He resumed racing on 29 January, and lost indoors over 3000 m to Ireland's Alistair Cragg after sprinting towards the line with one and a half laps to go, while thinking that there was only half a lap left.[18] A few weeks later he lost to fellow Ethiopian Markos Geneti over two miles.
In March, Kenenisa lined up to defend his long and short course titles at the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. He won on the short course despite a fast pace set by Qatari Saif Saaeed Shaheen, and followed that win with a long course victory the next day over Eritrean Zersenay Tadese and Kenyan rival Eliud Kipchoge.
On 8 August 2005, Kenenisa Bekele won the gold medal in the 10,000 m at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki with a stunning last 200 m spurt.[19]
On 26 August 2005, Kenenisa set the 10,000 m world record 26:17.53 at the 29th Memorial Van Damme meeting in Brussels, slicing nearly three seconds off his previous world record 26:20.31, and running with 5000 m splits of 13:09 and 13:08 minutes.[20] The race saw 6 runners finishing in less than 27 minutes, with Sammy Wanjiru dipping in 26:41.75, a new world junior record. At the end of 2005 Kenenisa was voted the Track & Field News magazine athlete of the year for the second year in a row.[21]
2006–2007
When Kenenisa won the 3000 m at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Moscow, he became the first athlete in history to be Olympic champion, world outdoor track champion, world indoor track champion, and world cross country champion.[22]
In 2006 he won five out of six IAAF Golden League events (5000 m) in the same season, which earned him a total of US$83,333.[23]
On 17 February 2007, he broke the indoor world record over 2000 m in Birmingham, with a time of 4:49.99. His spectacular final 300 m aided this time which would be considered excellent even outdoors.[24]
On 24 March 2007, however, his remarkable racing streak of 27 consecutive victories in cross country races (dating back to his last previous loss in December 2001) came to an end when after leading the race in the penultimate lap of the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa he succumbed to the very hot, humid conditions (which caused more than 1/6 of all competitors to drop out) and was passed by eventual winner Zersenay Tadese on the last lap before Kenenisa dropped out. This was greeted with cheers by the Kenyan crowds, an occurrence which has been frowned upon by the wider athletics community.[25]
He recovered from that rare failure to take the 10,000-metre title at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka, once again besting his compatriot Sileshi Sihine. During that race, he looked like he was going to be dropped several times over the last 800 metres, but recovered to overtake Sileshi with 150 metres to go and take his third straight world title.[26]
Beijing Olympics and Berlin World Championships
In Edinburgh on 30 March 2008, he won his sixth World Cross Country title (long course – 12k), breaking the three-way tie of 5 wins he had previously shared with Paul Tergat and John Ngugi. With this win, Kenenisa laid sole claim to most decorated athlete in IAAF World Cross Country Championships history. He has won 6 long course (12k) individual gold medals, 5 short course (4k) gold medals, 1 junior championship (8k), and 4 team gold medals for a sum total of 16 gold medals. His overall medal count (both individual and team results) stands at 27 medals: 16 gold, 9 silver and 2 bronze.[27]
On 17 August 2008 Kenenisa won gold in the 10,000m finals with a time of 27:01.17, setting a new Olympic Record in the process. In a race in which 20 men broke the 28-minute barrier and four finished under his 2004 Olympic record of 27:05.10, he needed his renowned finishing kick to pull out the victory, running a 53.42-second final 400 metres (similar to the 53.02-second final 400-metre sprint he used to win the gold medal in Athens in 2004 over the same distance).[28]
On 23 August 2008 Kenenisa bested his competitors and won the 5000-metre finals, shattering Saïd Aouita's Olympic Record by almost eight seconds with a time of 12:57.82. The race was remarkable for his manner of doing most of the pacing himself before accelerating to a scintillating finish: his last 3000 metres only took 7:35.53, his final 2000 metres 4:56.97, last 1600 metres 3:57.01 (=3:58.4 final mile) and his final lap a punishing 53.87 seconds.[29]-
By winning the 10,000/5000m double in the Beijing Olympics, Kenenisa joined another elite group of athletes: Hannes Kolehmainen (1912), Emil Zátopek (1952), Vladimir Kuts (1956), Lasse Virén (twice, in 1972 and 1976) and Miruts Yifter (1980).[30]
Kenenisa Bekele won two gold medals at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, held in Berlin. His double victories in 5000m (13:17.09) and 10,000m (26:46.31 – a World Championships Record) were unprecedented and by doing this became the first man to take both the long-distance track gold medals at the same World Championships.[31] His talent combination of endurance and speed has made it nearly impossible to defeat Kenenisa when he is at full strength. During the 10,000m race in which he was running behind Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse, the broadcaster declared "it is over, in fact it was over from the start" as the final lap began and Kenenisa turned an ostensibly close race into a blowout. The IAAF announcer concluded, "this man is probably the greatest distance runner we will ever see."[32]
In spite of his unrivalled success in athletics, Kenenisa did not experience the mainstream appeal that others such as Haile Gebrselassie did. His quiet demeanour and aversion to interviews did not make him a highly marketable athlete in the Western world. Fellow world record holder Usain Bolt stated that Kenenisa Bekele's achievements had not received the recognition that they deserved.[33]
Injuries
Kenenisa made a disappointing start to 2010, finishing fourth in the Edinburgh Cross Country in a race he was favored to win – a trio of Kenyan athletes ran him out of the contest over the final lap. He spent the entirety of the indoor and outdoor seasons out with a ruptured calf muscle.[34]
2011 World Championships and 2012 Olympics
Kenenisa Bekele finally returned to training after a knee injury in March 2011.[35] Having not raced on the track since 2009, Kenenisa returned for the World Championships.[36] He dropped out of the 10,000m with 10 laps remaining.[37] Kenenisa decided not to run the 5000 m and[38] returned to the Diamond League at the Ivo Van Damme Memorial in Brussels where he set the fastest time in the world for the 10,000 metres in 2011.[39][40]
Kenenisa's 2012 season did not start well, as he was a lowly eleventh place at the Edinburgh Cross Country.[41] In April, he appeared to have returned to form by winning the Great Ireland Run in a new personal best time for a 10 km road race of 27:49, improving the course record by 46 seconds.[42]
In the 2012 London Olympics 10,000m race he ran within the leading group for the whole race, but could not keep up with the Mo Farah's sprint in the last 150 metres and eventually finished fourth, with a time of 27:32.44, just 1.01 second outside the bronze medalist, his brother Tariku.[43]
In his first race of 2013 he won the Great Ireland Run for a second time.[44] Kenenisa then won the Great North Run half marathon in a time of 60:09, beating Mo Farah by just one second after making a move that Farah couldn't match with just less than 12 miles gone.
Marathon career
- 2014
Kenenisa Bekele started his marathon career in the 2014 Paris Marathon on 6 April 2014. His marathon debut was very successful as he bettered both the Paris course record and the debut marathon times of past legends Haile Gebrselassie, Paul Tergat and Samuel Wanjiru by running 2:05:04 to win.[45]
Kenenisa then went on to compete in the 2014 Chicago Marathon on 12 October 2014. He finished fourth in 2:05:51, 1min 40s behind Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge.[46]
- 2015
On 23 January 2015, Kenenisa Bekele took on the Dubai Marathon, where he had to retire from the race after 30 km.[47]
He was planned to compete in the 2015 London Marathon but had to withdraw due to a persistent injury to his right Achilles tendon.[48] Following 11 months of injury, Kenenisa returned to racing at the 2016 London Marathon. Prior to the race he indicated he was only currently at 90% fitness. Kenenisa finished in 3rd place behind winner Eliud Kipchoge and runner-up Stanley Biwott in a time of 2:06:36. This performance was despite the fact he only returned to jogging in early 2016 following injury and had only completed 6 weeks of specific marathon training. He was also hampered in the race by missing his drinks at 5 separate stations, due to them being used by the designated pacemakers.
- 2016: Berlin Marathon win
On 24 April, he placed third at the 2016 London Marathon with a time of two hours six minutes and 38 seconds. In September he won the 2016 Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:03:03 which set a new personal best time for him at the Marathon distance and the second fastest marathon of all time.[49]
- 2017
On 19 January 2017, attempting to break the world record, Kenenisa dropped out of the Dubai Marathon after the half way mark due to a fall at the beginning of the race.[50] On 23 April 2017, Kenenisa finished second in the London Marathon, finishing in 2:05:57, 9 seconds behind winner Daniel Wanjiru.[51]
- 2018
Kenenisa ran the 2018 London Marathon in April and came in sixth place with a time of 2:08:53.[52]
He also ran the Amsterdam marathon in October 2018 but dropped out due to injury with about 2 km to go.[53]
- 2019: Berlin Marathon win
Kenenisa won the 2019 Berlin Marathon in September in 2:01:41, the second fastest time ever at the time and just two seconds off of the world record set by Eliud Kipchoge on the same course the previous year. After the run he stated that he still believes that he can break the world record.[54]
- 2020
Kenenisa won the London half marathon on 1 March 2020 in 60:22. He improved on the course record set by Mo Farah in 2019 by 1:18. Chris Thompson came in second with 61:07, also within the former course record.[55][56]
- 2021
Kenenisa Bekele returned to the Berlin Marathon in September, where he placed third in 2:06:47. The race was won by his compatriot Guye Adola in 2:05:45, while Kenya's Bethwel Yegon finished second.[57] In November, he finished six at the 2021 New York City Marathon with a time of 2:12:52.[2]
- 2022
In September, he placed third at the Great North Run half marathon in a time of 1:01:01.[2] The next month, Kenenisa competed in the 2022 London Marathon, finishing fifth in 2:05:53 to set a masters world record in age 40 group.[58]
- 2023
In April, he took part in the London Marathon but withdrew from the race after 25k mark. Then, in October, he announced in his official Instagram account to share the news that he had departed from the NN running team and transitioned his sponsorship from Nike to Anta, a Chinese sports brand. In December, Kenenisa took part in the Valencia Marathon. Although he fell behind the leading group before reaching the 15km mark, he managed to secured a commendable 4th place overall with new M40 Master World Record with a time of 2:04:19. This achievement solidifies him as the first athlete aged over 40 to complete a marathon in sub 2:05 clocking.
Personal life
On 18 November 2007, Kenenisa married Ethiopian film actress Danawit Gebregziabher in Addis Ababa.[59] Kenenisa has one younger brother, Tariku Bekele, who is also an accomplished world-class distance runner.
Statistics
Personal bests
Type | Distance | Time (min) | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Track | 1500 m | 3:32.35 | 28 September 2007 | Shanghai, China | |
Mile run indoors | 4:01.57 | 3 February 2006 | New York, NY, United States | ||
2000 m indoors | 4:49.99 | 17 February 2007 | Birmingham, United Kingdom | World best | |
3000 m | 7:25.79 | 7 August 2007 | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
3000 m indoors | 7:30.51 | 20 February 2007 | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
Two miles | 8:13.51 | 26 May 2007 | Hengelo, Netherlands | ||
Two miles indoors | 8:04.35 | 16 February 2008 | Birmingham, United Kingdom | African best | |
5000 m | 12:37.35 | 31 May 2004 | Hengelo, Netherlands | NR | |
5000 m indoors | 12:49.60 | 20 February 2004 | Birmingham, United Kingdom | World record | |
10,000 m | 26:17.53 | 26 August 2005 | Brussels, Belgium | NR | |
Road | 10 km | 27:49 | 15 April 2012 | Dublin, Ireland | |
15 km | 42:42 | 9 December 2001 | 's-Heerenberg, Netherlands | ||
Half marathon | 1:00:22 | 1 March 2020 | London, United Kingdom | Big Half course record | |
Marathon | 2:01:41 | 29 September 2019 | Berlin, Germany | NR | |
2:04:19 | 03 December 2023 | Valencia, Spain | Masters world record (M 40 group) |
Yearly progression
Year | Best | Location | Date | World rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 12:55.79 | Paris | 6 July | 9th |
2009 | 12:52.32 | Zurich | 28 August | 1st |
2008 | 12:50.18 | Zurich | 29 August | 1st |
2007 | 12:49.53 | Zaragoza | 28 July | 1st |
2006 | 12:48.09 | Brussels | 25 August | 1st |
2005 | 12:40.18 | Paris | 1 July | 1st |
2004 | 12:37.35 | Hengelo | 31 May | 1st |
2003 | 12:52.26 | Oslo | 27 June | 3rd |
2002 | 13:26.58 | Milan | 5 June | 71st |
2001 | 13:13.33 | Seville | 8 June | 29th |
2000 | 13:20.57 | Rieti | 3 September | 53rd |
Year | Best | Location | Date | World rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 27:02.59 | Birmingham | 22 June | 3rd |
2011 | 26:43.16 | Brussels | 16 September | 1st |
2009 | 26:46.31 | Berlin | 17 August | 1st |
2008 | 26:25.97 | Eugene, Oregon | 8 June | 1st |
2007 | 26:46.19 | Brussels | 14 September | 1st |
2005 | 26:17.53 | Brussels | 26 August | 1st |
2004 | 26:20.31 | Ostrava | 8 June | 1st |
2003 | 26:49.57 | Paris | 25 August | 4th |
Competition record
International competitions
- Note: XC stands for cross country
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing Ethiopia | |||||
1999 | World XC Championships | Belfast, United Kingdom | 9th | Junior race (8.012 km) | 26:27 |
World Youth Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 2nd | 3000 m | 8:09.89 | |
2000 | World Junior Championships | Santiago, Chile | 2nd | 5000 m | 13:45.43 |
2001 | World XC Championships | Ostend, Belgium | 2nd | Short race (4.1 km) | 12:42 |
1st | Junior race (7.7 km) | 25:04 | |||
2002 | World XC Championships | Dublin, Ireland | 1st | Short race (4.208 km) | 12:11 |
1st | Long race (11.998 km) | 34:52 | |||
2003 | World XC Championships | Lausanne, Switzerland | 1st | Short race (4.03 km) | 11:01 |
1st | Long race (12.355 km) | 35:56 | |||
World Championships in Athletics | Paris, France | 3rd | 5000 m | 12:53.12 | |
1st | 10,000 m | 26:49.57 | |||
All-Africa Games | Abuja, Nigeria | 1st | 5000 m | 13:26.16 | |
2004 | World XC Championships | Brussels, Belgium | 1st | Short race (4 km) | 11:31 |
1st | Long race (12 km) | 35:52 | |||
Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 2nd | 5000 m | 13:14.59 | |
1st | 10,000 m | 27:05.10 | |||
2005 | World XC Championships | Saint-Galmier, France | 1st | Short race (4.196 km) | 11:33 |
1st | Long race (12.02 km) | 35:06 | |||
World Championships in Athletics | Helsinki, Finland | 1st | 10,000 m | 27:08.33 | |
2006 | World Indoor Championships | Moscow, Russia | 1st | 3000 m | 7:39.32 |
World XC Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | 1st | Short race (4 km) | 10:54 | |
1st | Long race (12 km) | 35:40 | |||
African Championships | Bambous, Mauritius | 1st | 5000 m | 14:03.41 | |
IAAF World Cup | Athens, Greece | 2nd | 3000 m | 7:36.25 | |
2007 | World XC Championships | Mombasa, Kenya | — | Senior race (12 km) | DNF |
World Championships in Athletics | Osaka, Japan | 1st | 10,000 m | 27:05.90 | |
2008 | World XC Championships | Edinburgh, United Kingdom | 1st | Senior race (12 km) | 34:38 |
African Championships | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 1st | 5000 m | 13:49.67 | |
Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 1st | 5000 m | 12:57.82 | |
1st | 10,000 m | 27:01.17 | |||
2009 | World Championships in Athletics | Berlin, Germany | 1st | 5000 m | 13:17.09 |
1st | 10,000 m | 26:46.31 | |||
2011 | World Championships in Athletics | Daegu, South Korea | — | 10,000 m | DNF |
2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 4th | 10,000 m | 27:32.44 |
Marathons
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Paris Marathon | Paris, France | 1st | Marathon | 2:05:04 |
Chicago Marathon | Chicago, United States | 4th | Marathon | 2:05:51 | |
2015 | Dubai Marathon | Dubai, UAE | DNF | Marathon | DNF |
2016 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | 3rd | Marathon | 2:06:36 |
Berlin Marathon | Berlin, Germany | 1st | Marathon | 2:03:03 | |
2017 | Dubai Marathon | Dubai, UAE | DNF | Marathon | DNF |
London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | 2nd | Marathon | 2:05:57 | |
Berlin Marathon | Berlin, Germany | DNF | Marathon | DNF | |
2018 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | 6th | Marathon | 2:08:53 |
Amsterdam Marathon | Amsterdam, Netherlands | DNF | Marathon | DNF | |
2019 | Berlin Marathon | Berlin, Germany | 1st | Marathon | 2:01:41 |
2020 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | DNS | Marathon | DNS |
2021 | Berlin Marathon | Berlin, Germany | 3rd | Marathon | 2:06:47 |
New York Marathon | New York, United States | 6th | Marathon | 2:12:52 | |
2022 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | 5th | Marathon | 2:05:53 |
2023 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | DNF | Marathon | DNF |
Valencia Marathon | Valencia, Spain | 4th | Marathon | 2:04:19 MWR |
World Grand Prix Finals
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Grand Prix Final | Melbourne, Australia | 2nd | 3000 m |
2003 | World Athletics Final | Monaco, Monaco | 1st | 3000 m |
2005 | World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 1st | 5000 m |
2009 | World Athletics Final | Thessaloniki, Greece | 1st | 3000 m |
World Marathon Majors results timeline
World Marathon Majors | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tokyo Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Boston Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
London Marathon | – | – | 3rd | 2nd | 6th | – | DNS | – | 5th | DNF |
Berlin Marathon | – | – | 1st | DNF | – | 1st | – | 3rd | – | – |
Chicago Marathon | 4th | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
New York Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6th | – | – |
Circuit honours
- IAAF Golden League jackpot winner: 2006, 2009
- Montferland Run 15K: 2000, 2001
- Giro al Sas 11K: 2001
- Memorial Peppe Greco 10K: 2003
- Cross country wins
- Tilburg Warandeloop: 2000
- Cinque Mulini: 2002
- Lotto Cross Cup Brussels: 2002
- Oeiras International Cross Country: 2002, 2003
- Campaccio: 2002, 2004
- Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza: 2003
- Trofeo Alasport: 2003
- Cross Internacional de Itálica: 2003, 2004, 2007
- Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños: 2004
- Great Edinburgh International Cross Country: 2006, 2007, 2008
Awards
- IAAF World Athlete of the Year: 2004, 2005
- Track & Field News Athlete of the Year: 2004, 2005
- Ethiopian Person of the Year: 2007/2008
References
- ↑ "Kenenisa Bekele". bbc.com. BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Kenenisa Bekele". iaaf.org. International Association of Athletics Federations. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- 1 2 "Kenenisa BEKELE". olympicchannel.com. Olympic Channel Services. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ↑ "Kenenisa Bekele". Olympedia. OLYMadMen. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ↑ "Bekele runs two seconds short of marathon world record in Berlin". 29 September 2019. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ↑ Futterman, Matthew (5 November 2021). "The Fastest Man Ever to Run the New York City Marathon Has Arrived". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ↑ Chavez, Chris. "Kenenisa Bekele to Run Berlin, New York City Marathon Double". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ↑ Henderson, Jason (4 November 2021). "Why Kenenisa Bekele is the greatest male distance runner in history". AW. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ↑ Hattenstone, Simon (6 April 2012). The Ethiopian town that's home to the world's greatest runners Archived 25 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ "IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2001 U20 Race Men". Archived from the original on 20 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ↑ IAAF, 17 November 2009: World Records ratified Archived 23 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- 1 2 3 Kenenisa Bekele Archived 2 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. World Athletics. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Athletics: For Bekele, 5th straight double title Archived 2 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. New York Times (2 April 2006). Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Longman, Jeré (11 May 2016). "Two-Hour Marathon. Can It Be Done?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ↑ "Kenenisa Bekele to take on Eliud Kipchoge at London Marathon 2020". BBC Sport. 17 January 2020. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Kenenisa Bekele". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Rice, Xan (22 October 2005). The tracks of his tears Archived 2 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ "Bekele error helps Cragg to victory". RTE.ie. 30 January 2005. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ↑ 2005 World Championships 10000 m final
- ↑ "IAAF: Bekele pulverizes World 10,000m – TDK Golden League, Brussels| News | iaaf.org". iaaf.org. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ↑ Bekele and Isinbayeva also top Track and Field News poll Archived 8 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. World Athletics (26 December 2005). Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Bekele completes trio Archived 9 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Eurosport (12 March 2006). Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Dibaba and Bekele: Different Route, Same Paycheque – IAAF Magazine Archived 2 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. World Athletics (5 February 2007). Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Brown, Matthew (17 February 2007). Bekele steals the show with 2000m World best – Birmingham report Archived 8 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. World Athletics. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Ramsak, Bob (24 March 2007). Tadesse takes upset victory as Bekele registers a ‘DNF’ – Mombasa 2007 Archived 8 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. World Athletics. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Gains, Paul (28 August 2007). Osaka 2007 – Men's 10,000m: Bekele’s Mombasa nightmare is dispelled Archived 2 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. World Athletics. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ "Kenenisa Bekele gone out of Ethiopia's Olympic team". OmRiyadat English. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ↑ BBC Sports http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/latest_results/default.stm Archived 28 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Zinser, Lynn (17 August 2008). Jamaican Supremacy Continues, and So Does an Ethiopian’s Comeback Archived 2 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. The New York Times. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Bekele storms to Olympic double Archived 28 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine. BBC Sport (23 August 2008). Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Jörg Wenig (23 August 2009). Bekele conquers another superlative Archived 27 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. IAAF. Retrieved on 24 August 2009.
- ↑ "Ethiopia Kenenisa vs Eritrea Zersenay tadesse". YouTube. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- ↑ Chadband, Ian (1 September 2009). Kenenisa Bekele is the Usain Bolt of distance running Archived 30 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 1 September 2009.
- ↑ Gains, Paul (26 May 2011). Bekele's Comeback Begins Archived 2 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Runner's World. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ "Bekele back in training, hopeful for London 2012 | Athletics Weekly – the best coverage of the No.1 Olympic sport". Athletics Weekly. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011.
- ↑ "World Athletics Championships 2011: Kenenisa Bekele is big unknown quantity for favourite Mo Farah". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ↑ "Men's 10,000m – Final – In dramatic finish, Jeilan keeps title in Ethiopian hands". World Athletics. 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ↑ "Farah won't face Bekele in 5,000m as the Ethiopian returns home | Athletics". insidethegames.biz. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ↑ "Bekele sets season best in 10,000m". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 17 September 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ↑ IAAF.org (15 September 2011). "Brussels offers Bekele the chance to bounce back – Samsung Diamond League". iaaf.org. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ↑ Wenig, Jorg (7 January 2012). Kiprop triumphs in race of champions, Bekele a distant 11th – Edinburgh XC report Archived 9 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. IAAF. Retrieved on 8 January 2012.
- ↑ Cole, Brendan (15 April 2012). Bekele wins Great Ireland Run in stunning style Archived 19 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. RTE. Retrieved on 15 April 2012.
- ↑ Mulkeen, Jon (4 August 2012). Ennis, Farah and Rutherford take gold for Britain on 'Super Saturday' – London 2012 Day Two Report Archived 12 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. IAAF. Retrieved on 4 August 2012.
- ↑ Martin, David (14 April 2013). Bekele retains title, Howarth takes honours in Dublin Archived 16 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine. IAAF. Retrieved on 18 April 2013.
- ↑ "Kenenisa Bekele Runs 2:05:03 in Marathon Debut – Breaks course record and smahes debut times of past legends Gebrselassie, Tergat and Wanjiru". 6 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ↑ "Kenyans sweep Chicago Marathon, Kenenisa Bekele fourth". 12 October 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ "Ethiopian clean sweep at Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon". 23 January 2015. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ "Kenenisa Bekele Withdraws from London Marathon with Injury". 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ Dennehy, Cathal (25 September 2016). Bekele back to his brilliant best in Berlin Archived 26 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine. World Athletics. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ Huebsch, Tim (20 January 2017). Kenenisa Bekele falls hard, cramps up, drops out of wild Dubai Marathon Watch video of the start of the Dubai Marathon where Kenenisa Bekele falls and puts his world record bid in jeopardy Archived 5 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Running Magazine. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ London Marathon 2017: Mary Keitany & Daniel Wanjiru win Archived 30 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. BBC Sport (23 April 2017). Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ↑ "IAAF: Kipchoge and Cheruiyot ensure Kenyan double at London Marathon| News | iaaf.org". iaaf.org. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ↑ "An Examinaton of Kenenisa Bekele's Bizarre Day at the 2018 TCS Amsterdam Marathon". 21 October 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ↑ "Berlin-Marathon: Kenenisa Bekele verpasst Weltrekord um zwei Sekunden". Spiegel Online. 29 September 2019. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ↑ "Kenenisa Bekele and Lily Partridge win Big Half in London". AW. 1 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ↑ "The Vitality Big Half 2020: Kenenisa Bekele breaks Mo Farah's course record". BBC Sport. 1 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ↑ Results: Berlin Marathon 2021. (2021, September 26). Watch Athletics. https://www.watchathletics.com/page/2638/results-berlin-marathon-2021
- ↑ Crumley, Euan (2 October 2022). "Kipruto's closing kick lands him London Marathon prize". AW. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ↑ "Bekele follows Campbell down marriage path". iaaf.org. Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
External links
- Kenenisa Bekele at World Athletics
- IAAF: Focus on Athletes
- Kenenisa Bekele at Olympics.com
- Kenenisa Bekele at Olympedia