HAILE GEBRSELASSIE
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.
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Atlanta, 29 July 1996: Paul
TERGAT from Kenya, 2nd, Haile GEBRSELASSIE
from Ethiopia, 1st, at the finish line
of the 10000m during the Games of the
XXVI Olympiad. |
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Atlanta, 29 July 1996: medal ceremony
for the 10000m event: (L-R) Salah HISSOU
from Morocco, 3rd, Haile GEBRSELASSIE
from Ethiopia, 1st, and Paul TERGAT from
Kenya, 2nd. |
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Sydney, 25 September 2000: Haile GEBRSELASSIE
from Ethiopia, 1st, in action in the 10000m
event during the Games of the XXVII Olympiad. |
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Sydney, 22 September 2000: Patrick Mutuku
IVUTI from Kenya, 4th, Haile GEBRSELASSIE
from Ethiopia, 1st, Assefa MEZGEBU from
Ethiopia, 3rd, and John KORIR from Kenya,
5th, during the first qualifying heat
for the 10000m event. |
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Sydney, 25 September 2000: Haile GEBRSELASSIE
from Ethiopia (on the left) on his way
to winning the 10000m event during the
Games of the XXVII Olympiad.
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Sydney, 25 September 2000: Haile GEBRSELASSIE
from Ethiopia, 1st, and Paul TERGAT from
Kenya, in the final sprint of the 10000m
event during the Games of the XXVII Olympiad. |
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Sydney, 25 September 2000: Haile GEBRSELASSIE
from Ethiopia, 1st, and Paul TERGAT from
Kenya, in the final sprint of the 10000m
event during the Games of the XXVII Olympiad. |
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Sydney, 25 September 2000: Haile
GEBRSELASSIE from Ethiopia, 1st, and
Paul TERGAT from Kenya, at the finish
line of the 10000m event during the
Games of the XXVII Olympiad. |
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Sydney, 25 September 2000: Girma
TOLLA, 11th, Haile GEBRSELASSIE, 1st,
and Assefa MEZGEBU, 3rd, from Ethiopia,
during their lap of honour after the
10000m event.
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Olympic Museum, Lausanne, 23 June 2001:
Olympic Day celebrations, presentation
of the Olympic Order to Haile GEBRSELASSIE
from Ethiopia by IOC President Juan Antonio
SAMARANCH. |
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