Werknesh Kidane facts for kids
 Werknesh Kidane at the 2012 Summer Olympics |
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's athletics | ||
Representing  Ethiopia |
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| World Championships | ||
| Silver | 2003 Paris | 10,000 m |
| World Cross Country Championships | ||
| Gold | 2003 Lausanne | Long race |
| Silver | 2002 Dublin | Short race |
| Silver | 2003 Lausanne | Short race |
| Silver | 2005 St Etienne | Short race |
| Bronze | 2004 Brussels | Long race |
| Bronze | 2005 St Etienne | Long race |
Werknesh Kidane (Amharic: ወርቅነሽ ኪዳነ; born November 21, 1981) is an amazing long-distance runner from Ethiopia. She is known for competing in races like the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. Werknesh has won many medals at big events, including the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. She also proudly represented Ethiopia at the Summer Olympics in 2000, 2004, and 2012. She earned a silver medal at the 2005 World Championships and a gold medal at the 2003 World Cross Country Championships.
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Werknesh Kidane's Early Life and Career
Werknesh Kidane was born in a historic town called Maychew in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. She started her international running career at a young age. Her first big win came in 1999 at the 1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. She won the junior race, showing everyone her talent.
Making Her Olympic Debut
As a teenager, Werknesh got to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This was her first time at the Olympics! She ran in the 5,000-meter final and finished in seventh place. In 2002, she won the Great Ethiopian Run, a popular race in her home country. She also earned a silver medal in the short race at the 2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Achieving Success in 2003 and 2004
The year 2003 was a very successful one for Werknesh. She started by winning the Antrim International Cross Country race. Then, she won the women's long race title at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. This was a huge achievement!
Medals at Major Championships
Werknesh continued to shine in 2003. She won a silver medal in the 10,000-meter race at the 2003 All-Africa Games. She finished right behind another great Ethiopian runner, Ejegayehu Dibaba.
Her best performance that year was at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics. She ran the 10,000-meter race in her fastest time ever: 30 minutes and 7.15 seconds. This amazing effort earned her a silver medal! She finished second to her fellow Ethiopian runner, Berhane Adere.
In 2004, Werknesh competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics. She finished fourth in the 10,000-meter event. She also won a bronze medal in the long race at the 2004 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Cross Country and Road Racing
Werknesh had a great cross country season in Spain during 2004 and 2005. She won several races, including events in Soria, Valle de Llodio, and Seville.
Team Success in 2005
At the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Werknesh won two more medals. She took second place in the short race and third place in the long race. She also helped her team win titles in both races, running alongside the famous Tirunesh Dibaba. Later that year, she competed in the 2005 World Championships in Athletics, finishing sixth in the 10,000-meter race.
Return to Competition and Road Races
After taking a break, Werknesh returned to international running at the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. She finished ninth in the senior race. She then tried her first major road race at the 2010 Great Manchester Run. She won the race with her fastest time of 32 minutes and 31 seconds.
In June 2010, she ran in the NYRR New York Mini 10K and finished third. She continued to compete in road races in the United States. She placed third at the Philadelphia Half Marathon with a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 30 seconds.
Marathon Debut and Later Career
Werknesh tried running a marathon for the first time in 2011. She competed in the 2011 Boston Marathon and finished seventh with a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 15 seconds.
The next year, she was runner-up at the Carlsbad 5000 race, finishing behind Tirunesh Dibaba. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she once again finished fourth in the 10,000-meter race. In 2015, she competed in the Carlsbad 5000 again, finishing 11th.
Personal Life
Werknesh Kidane now lives in the USA and is a US resident. Her parents still live in Axum, Ethiopia. She is 1.58 meters (about 5 feet 2 inches) tall. When she runs for the Ethiopian National Team, she is coached by Kassu Alemayehu and Dr. Woldemeskel Kostre. Her manager is Mark Wetmore. Werknesh is married to Gebregziabher Gebremariam, who is also a well-known runner.
Images for kids
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A friendly robot
See also
In Spanish: Werknesh Kidane para niños
