Million Wolde facts for kids

Million Wolde (born March 17, 1979) is a famous Ethiopian athlete. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the 5,000 metres race at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Early Career and Junior Success

Million Wolde started his running career at a young age. When he was just seventeen, he competed in the 1996 World Junior Championships in Sydney. He finished sixth in the 3,000 metres steeplechase, which is a race with hurdles and water jumps.

Two years later, in 1998, he won the 5,000 metres at the World Junior Championships held in Annecy, France. He also did very well in junior cross-country races. He finished eighth in 1996, second in 1997, and won his final junior championship race in 1998.

Rising to International Fame

Million Wolde began to gain more attention in 1999. He won a bronze medal in the 3,000 metres at the World Indoor Championships in Maebashi. Later that year, he competed in the 5,000 metres at the World Championships in Seville, where he finished eighth.

He also continued to compete in cross-country races. In 1999, he finished fourth in the senior men's short course race in Belfast. The next year, in 2000, he placed fifteenth in the same race in Vilamoura, Portugal.

Olympic Gold Medal

The most exciting moment in Million Wolde's career happened at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He was only twenty-two years old when he competed in the 5,000 metres race.

During the race, no one was running very fast at the beginning. Million Wolde waited for the right moment. With only 200 metres left, he suddenly sprinted past the other runners. He won the gold medal with a time of 13 minutes and 35.49 seconds. He finished ahead of Ali Saïdi-Sief from Algeria and Brahim Lahlafi from Morocco.

Later Career and Life

After his Olympic win, Million Wolde continued to achieve success. At the 2001 World Championships in Athletics in Edmonton, Canada, he won a silver medal in the 5,000 metres.

Later in his career, injuries made it harder for him to compete. However, he was still active in running as of 2008. In 2015, he was living in Tarrytown, New York, and took part in some local races. By August 2018, Million Wolde became an Assistant Cross Country coach at Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.