Berhane Adere facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Berhane Adere

Berhane Adere
Personal information
Full name	Berhane Adere Debala
Born	(1973-07-21) 21 July 1973 (age 51) Shewa, Ethiopia
Sport
Country	Ethiopia
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	Long-distance running
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  Ethiopia World Championships Gold 2003 Paris 10,000 m Silver 2001 Edmonton 10,000 m Silver 2005 Helsinki 10,000 m World Indoor Championships Gold 2003 Birmingham 3000 m Silver 2004 Budapest 3000 m World Cup Gold 2002 Madrid 3000 m Bronze 1998 Johannesburg 5000 m African Championships Gold 1998 Dakar 5000 m Gold 2002 Radès 5000 m World Half Marathon Championships Gold 2002 Brussels Half marathon Silver 2003 Vilamoura Half marathon Bronze 2001 Bristol Half marathon World Marathon Majors Gold 2006 Chicago Marathon Gold 2007 Chicago Marathon Bronze 2009 Chicago Marathon

Berhane Adere Debala (born 21 July 1973) is a famous retired Ethiopian long-distance runner. She was especially good at the 10,000 metres race and the half marathon.

Berhane won a gold medal in the 10,000 m at the 2003 World Championships. She also earned silver medals in the same race in 2001 and 2005. She won gold and silver medals for the 3,000 metres at the 2003 and 2004 World Indoor Championships. Her 2003 gold medal was the first world indoor medal for an Ethiopian woman.

In half marathons, she became world champion in 2002. She also took silver in 2003 and bronze in 2001. Berhane won the tough Chicago Marathon twice, in 2006 and 2007. She also set world indoor records for the 3,000 m and 5,000 m races.

Today, Berhane works with UNICEF as a goodwill ambassador. She helps promote girls' education around the world.

Running Career Highlights

Berhane Adere was a very strong runner. She once held the African record for the 10,000 metres race. She set this record in 2003 when she won gold at the World Championships. Her record was later broken by another amazing Ethiopian runner, Tirunesh Dibaba, in 2008.

Marathon and Half Marathon Success

Berhane showed her strength in longer races too. She won the 2006 Chicago Marathon with her best time ever: 2 hours, 20 minutes, and 42 seconds. She won the Chicago Marathon again in 2007. In 2008, she also won the Dubai Marathon.

She was also very successful in half marathons. In 2007, she won the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon. In 2010, she ran the fastest ever half marathon by a woman on American soil. This was at the Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon in New Orleans. She finished in 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 52 seconds. She also won the Great North Run in September 2010.

Major Achievements and Medals

Berhane Adere won many medals throughout her career. Here are some of her most important achievements:

• World Championships:

* Gold: 10,000m (2003) * Silver: 10,000m (2001, 2005)

• World Indoor Championships:

* Gold: 3,000m (2003) * Silver: 3,000m (2004)

• World Half Marathon Championships:

* Gold: Individual (2002) * Silver: Individual (2003) * Bronze: Individual (2001)

• African Championships:

* Gold: 5,000m (1998, 2002)

• World Cup:

* Gold: 3,000m (2002) * Bronze: 5,000m (1998)

• Major Marathons:

* Gold: Chicago Marathon (2006, 2007) * Bronze: Chicago Marathon (2009)

Personal Best Times

Berhane Adere set impressive personal bests in her running career:

• 3,000 metres: 8 minutes, 25.62 seconds (2001)
  • Indoor: 8 minutes, 29.15 seconds (2002)
• 5,000 metres: 14 minutes, 29.32 seconds (2003)
  • Indoor: 14 minutes, 39.29 seconds (2004)
• 10,000 metres: 30 minutes, 4.18 seconds (2003)
• Half marathon: 1 hour, 7 minutes, 52 seconds (2010)
• Marathon: 2 hours, 20 minutes, 42 seconds (2006)