Born: 18 April 1973

Birthplace: Arssi (Ethiopia)

Nationality: Ethiopia

Sport: Athletics

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Atlanta 1996

Sydney 2000

Athens 2004

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 2

Other results:

World Championships

Gold: 4 (93, 95, 97, 99)

Silver: 1 (93)

Bronze: 1 (01)

Gebre

As a child growing up on a farm in Ethiopia, Haile Gebrselassie ran ten kilometres to school each day and another ten kilometres back home. As an adult, he ran with his left arm crooked, the effect of years spent running with books under his arm. By the time of the 1996 Olympics, Gebrselassie was the reigning world record holder at 10,000m and the twice defending world champion. It was expected that he would receive a serious challenge from cross-country champion Paul Tergat of Kenya and that is exactly what happened. Tergat and Gebrselassie pulled away from the rest of the field after 8000m. Gebreselassie tracked Tergat until the final lap and then surged ahead to win by six metres. Gebrselassie and Tergat renewed their rivalry at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Again they left the rest of the runners behind and again Tergat led as they entered the final lap. This time the finish was even closer, as Gebrselassie did not edge ahead of Tergat until the very last stride, in what would prove to be one of the most exciting finishes in Olympic history. At the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, Haile Gebrselassie finished 5th in the 10, 000m.