Kenenisa Bekele facts for kids
![]() Kenenisa in 2012
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Kenenisa Bekele Beyecha | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Ethiopian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | near Bekoji, Arsi Province, Socialist Ethiopia |
13 June 1982 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 165 cm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 56 kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | Ethiopia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Track, Long-distance running | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | 5000 metres, 10,000 metres, Marathon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | Anta Sports NN Running Team (past) |
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Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal best(s) |
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Medal record
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Kenenisa Bekele Beyecha (born 13 June 1982) is an amazing long-distance runner from Ethiopia. He used to hold the world records for both the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races. Kenenisa won gold medals in both the 5,000 m and 10,000 m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the 2004 Olympics, he earned a gold medal in the 10,000 m and a silver medal in the 5,000 m.
He is known as one of the most successful runners in the history of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. He won many titles there, including six long-course and five short-course races. Kenenisa also won the 10,000 m title at the World Championships in Athletics four times in a row, from 2003 to 2009. He was unbeatable in the 10,000 m from his first race in 2003 until 2011.
At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, Kenenisa made history. He was the first man to win both the 5000 m and 10,000 m titles at the same championship. He also has an Olympic silver medal, a World Championship bronze, and several African titles in the 5000 m. Many people think he is the greatest distance runner of all time because of his success in cross country, track, and road races.
Contents
Kenenisa's Early Life and Start in Running
Kenenisa Bekele was born in 1982 in Bekoji, a town in Ethiopia. This town is famous for producing many great long-distance runners. These include the Dibaba sisters (Ejegayehu, Tirunesh, and Genzebe) and their cousin Derartu Tulu. Kenenisa was the second of six children. His parents were barley farmers.
At first, Kenenisa wanted to work in medicine or education. But a physical education teacher encouraged him to try running. He was also inspired by the success of Derartu Tulu and Haile Gebrselassie. Kenenisa won his first international medals early on. He took second place in the 3000 meters at the 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics and in the 5000 meters at the 2000 World Junior Championships. He won his first gold medal in the junior race at the 2001 World Cross Country Championships. His running success helped him buy a house and support his siblings' education.
Kenenisa's Amazing Running Career
Early Success: 2001 to 2003
In August 2001, Kenenisa set a 3000 metres world junior record in Brussels. He ran the race in 7:30.67 minutes. From 2002 to 2006, he won both the short (4 km) and long (12 km) races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. No other runner has ever done this even once. After 2007, the short course race was removed. Kenenisa won another long course race in 2008. This brought his total World Cross Country medals to 11 individual gold medals.
Kenenisa became famous for his incredible speed at the end of long races. In June 2003, he showed this skill in Oslo. He quickly caught up to Kenyan runner Abraham Chebii and won the race. Kenenisa has raced against fellow Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie many times. Kenenisa won most of these races, especially in the 10,000 m.
Breaking Records in 2004
In 2004, Kenenisa broke world records for the indoor 5000 m, outdoor 5000 m, and outdoor 10,000 m. He achieved these three records in just nine days! He also won the short and long course world cross country titles. This helped Ethiopia win the senior men's team title. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, he won a gold medal in the 10,000 meters and a silver medal in the 5000 meters.
Overcoming Challenges: 2005 to 2007
On January 4, 2005, Kenenisa faced a personal tragedy. His fiancée, Alem Techale, passed away during a training run. She was a talented young runner herself. Despite this, Kenenisa returned to racing. In March, he defended his cross country titles at the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. He won both the short and long course races.
On August 8, 2005, Kenenisa won the gold medal in the 10,000 m at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki. He used a powerful sprint in the last 200 meters. On August 26, 2005, Kenenisa set a new 10,000 m world record of 26:17.53 in Brussels. He beat his own record by almost three seconds. At the end of 2005, Track & Field News magazine named him athlete of the year for the second time.
In 2006, Kenenisa won the 3000 m at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Moscow. This made him the first athlete to be an Olympic champion, world outdoor track champion, world indoor track champion, and world cross country champion. In 2007, he broke the indoor world record for 2000 m in Birmingham. However, his amazing streak of 27 cross country victories ended in March 2007. He had to drop out of a race in Mombasa due to very hot and humid conditions. But he quickly recovered. He won the 10,000-meter title at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka.
Olympic Glory in Beijing: 2008
In March 2008, Kenenisa won his sixth World Cross Country title in Edinburgh. This made him the most decorated athlete in IAAF World Cross Country Championships history. He has won a total of 16 gold medals in these championships.
At the Beijing Olympics in August 2008, Kenenisa won gold in the 10,000m. He set a new Olympic Record with a time of 27:01.17. He used his famous strong finish, running the last 400 meters in just 53.42 seconds. A few days later, on August 23, 2008, Kenenisa won the 5000-meter final. He broke the Olympic Record by almost eight seconds, finishing in 12:57.82. He led most of the race himself and then sped up incredibly fast at the end. By winning both the 10,000m and 5000m in Beijing, Kenenisa joined a small group of elite athletes who have achieved this "double" victory.
Double Gold at the 2009 World Championships
Kenenisa Bekele continued his winning streak at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin. He won two more gold medals, one in the 5000m (13:17.09) and another in the 10,000m (26:46.31). His 10,000m time was a new World Championships Record. This made him the first man to win both long-distance track gold medals at the same World Championships. His amazing mix of endurance and speed made him almost impossible to beat when he was at his best.
Even with all his success, Kenenisa was not as famous as some other athletes like Haile Gebrselassie. This was partly because he was quiet and did not seek out many interviews.
Injuries and Comebacks: 2010 to 2012
Kenenisa had a tough start to 2010. He finished fourth in a cross country race he was expected to win. He then spent the rest of the year recovering from a calf muscle injury.
He returned to training in March 2011 after a knee injury. At the World Championships, he had to drop out of the 10,000m race. However, he later set the fastest time in the world for the 10,000 meters in 2011 at a race in Brussels. Kenenisa's 2012 season also started slowly. But in April, he seemed to be back in form. He won the Great Ireland Run in a new personal best time for a 10 km road race.
At the 2012 London Olympics 10,000m race, he stayed with the leading group. But he could not match Mo Farah's final sprint and finished fourth. His brother, Tariku Bekele, won the bronze medal. In 2013, Kenenisa won the Great Ireland Run again. He also won the Great North Run half marathon, beating Mo Farah by just one second.
Kenenisa's Marathon Journey
Starting Strong: 2014-2015
Kenenisa Bekele began his marathon career at the 2014 Paris Marathon on April 6, 2014. His first marathon was very successful! He won the race in 2:05:04, setting a new course record. This time was also faster than the debut marathon times of other running legends. Kenenisa then ran the 2014 Chicago Marathon in October 2014, finishing fourth. In January 2015, he had to stop during the Dubai Marathon due to an injury. He also had to withdraw from the 2015 London Marathon because of a problem with his Achilles tendon.
Big Wins and Records: 2016-2019
After 11 months of injury, Kenenisa returned to racing at the 2016 London Marathon. He finished in third place, even though he had only trained for six weeks. On September 25, 2016, Kenenisa won the 2016 Berlin Marathon in 2:03:03. This was a new personal best for him and the second-fastest marathon time ever at that point. In April 2017, Kenenisa finished second in the London Marathon.
In April 2018, Kenenisa ran the London Marathon again and finished sixth. He also started the Amsterdam marathon but had to stop due to injury. In September 2019, Kenenisa won the 2019 Berlin Marathon in an incredible 2:01:41. This was the second-fastest marathon time ever at that point, just two seconds off the world record. After this race, he said he still believed he could break the world record.
Recent Races: 2020-2024
Kenenisa won the London half marathon on March 1, 2020. He beat the course record set by Mo Farah. In September 2021, he returned to the Berlin Marathon and placed third. In November, he finished sixth at the 2021 New York City Marathon.
In September 2022, he placed third at the Great North Run half marathon. The next month, Kenenisa competed in the 2022 London Marathon. He finished fifth and set a new masters world record for runners aged 40 and over. In April 2023, he started the London Marathon but withdrew. In December, Kenenisa ran the Valencia Marathon. He finished fourth and set another M40 Master World Record with a time of 2:04:19. This made him the first athlete over 40 to run a marathon in under 2 hours and 5 minutes.
In April 2024, the 41-year-old Kenenisa competed in the London Marathon. He finished second and broke his own Masters record by 4 seconds, running 2:04:15. Kenenisa was chosen to represent Ethiopia in the marathon at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. This was his fourth Olympic appearance. He finished in 39th place with a time of 2:12:24.
Kenenisa's Personal Life
On November 18, 2007, Kenenisa married Ethiopian film actress Danawit Gebregziabher in Addis Ababa. Kenenisa has a younger brother, Tariku Bekele, who is also a very talented long-distance runner.
Kenenisa's Running Statistics
Best Times
Type | Distance | Time (min) | Date | Location | Notes |
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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 | WR and AR until 14 August 2020, broken by Joshua Cheptegei
NR until 30 May 2024, broken by Hagos Gebrhiwet |
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5000 m indoors | 12:49.60 | 20 February 2004 | Birmingham, United Kingdom | WR until 14 February 2025, broken by Grant Fisher | |
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 | |
2:04:15 | 3 December 2023 | London, England | Masters world record (M 40 group) |
Yearly Progress
Year | Best | Location | Date | World rank |
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2012 | 12:55.79 | Paris | 6 July | 9th |
2009 | 12:52.32 | Zürich | 28 August | 1st |
2008 | 12:50.18 | Zürich | 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 |
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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 | 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 | Result |
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Representing ![]() |
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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 |
2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 39th | Marathon | 2:12:24 |
Marathons
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result |
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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 | |
2024 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | 2nd | Marathon | 2:04:15 MWR |
Olympic Games | Paris, France | 39th | Marathon | 2:12:24 | |
Valencia Marathon | Valencia, Spain | DNF | Marathon | DNF |
World Grand Prix Finals (World Athletics Finals)
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result |
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2001 | Grand Prix Final | Melbourne, Australia | 2nd | 3000 m | 7:54.39 |
2003 | World Athletics Final | Monaco, Monaco | 1st | 3000 m | 7:36.98 |
2006 | World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 1st | 5000 m | 13:48.62 |
2009 | World Athletics Final | Thessaloniki, Greece | 1st | 3000 m | 8:03.79 |
World Marathon Majors Results
World Marathon Majors | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
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Tokyo Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Boston Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
London Marathon | – | – | 3rd | 2nd | 6th | – | DNS | – | 5th | DNF | 2nd |
Berlin Marathon | – | – | 1st | DNF | – | 1st | – | 3rd | – | – | – |
Chicago Marathon | 4th | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
New York Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6th | – | – | – |
Other Race Wins
- 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 and Recognition
- IAAF World Athlete of the Year: 2004, 2005
- Track & Field News Athlete of the Year: 2004, 2005
- Ethiopian Person of the Year: 2007/2008
- ESPN Africa's best athlete of the 21st century
See also
In Spanish: Kenenisa Bekele para niños