He even set a world record in the distance in 2007. He won many prestigious victories in the Berlin, Fukuoka and Dubai races. After Athens, he concentrated on the half-marathon and the marathon, and soon became a specialist. A change of paceĪt the 2004 Athens Games, Gebrselassie finished 5th in the 10,000m. This tense rivalry was repeated in Sydney, when Gebrselassie sensationally took gold with his very last stride. The two men dominated the final with Gebrselassie winning dramatically by just six metres. His main rival was cross-country champion Paul Tergat of Kenya. Great rivalryīy Atlanta in 1996, Gebrselassie was the reigning world record holder at 10,000m and the twice-defending world champion. As an adult, he ran with his left arm crooked, the effect of years spent running with books under his arm.

Born to runĪs a child growing up on a farm in Ethiopia, Haile Gebrselassie ran 10 kilometres to school each day and another 10 kilometres back home. Haile Gebrselassie is considered one of the greatest runners in history, with victories and world records in almost every long-distance and middle-distance event.

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