Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele will once again don his country’s colors at the Olympic Games, marking his return to the international stage after a 12-year hiatus. Bekele, one of the most decorated distance runners in history, has officially secured his spot on the Ethiopian marathon team for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Bekele is among three men selected by the Ethiopian Athletics Federation to compete in the marathon at the Paris Olympics. This will be Bekele’s fourth Olympic Games, but his first in the marathon event. Previously, Bekele has won four Olympic medals (three gold and one silver) in the 5,000m and 10,000m events at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Bekele earned his place on the team after an impressive performance at the 2024 London Marathon, where he finished second with a time of 2:04:15. This time set a new world record for men aged 40 and over, improving on his previous best from the 2023 Valencia Marathon. Bekele’s remarkable consistency and endurance have solidified his status as a top competitor.
In Paris, Bekele will face his long-time rival, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, in what promises to be a thrilling showdown. The two athletes, who are among the fastest marathoners in history, will compete in their final Olympic Games almost exactly 20 years after their first Olympic encounter in Athens. Both Bekele and Kipchoge are part of the exclusive group of four men who have run a marathon in under 2 hours and 2 minutes.
Joining Bekele on the Ethiopian team are Sisay Lemma and Tamirat Tola. Lemma, with a personal best of 2:01:53 from the Valencia Marathon, recently won the 2024 Boston Marathon. Tola, the 2022 world marathon champion and 2023 New York City Marathon champion, is expected to be a strong contender on the challenging Paris course, which features significant elevation changes. Ethiopia hopes to end Kenya’s dominance in the men’s marathon, with their last gold medal in the event dating back to Sydney 2000.
On the women’s side, world record holder Tigist Assefa has been named to her first Olympic team. Assefa set a stunning world record at the 2023 Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:11:53. She has enjoyed a successful marathon career, winning two of her four races and finishing on the podium in three. Most recently, Assefa finished second at the 2024 London Marathon. The Paris course, with its challenging terrain, will be Assefa’s toughest test yet.
Assefa will be joined by experienced marathoners Amane Beriso and Gotytom Gebreslase. Beriso, the 2023 world champion, has consistently finished in the top three of her last six marathons and has thrived in warmer conditions. Gebreslase, the 2022 world champion, has also been a regular on the podium in recent world championships.
The Ethiopian women’s team is aiming to end Kenya’s winning streak in the marathon, with their last gold medal coming from Tiki Gelena at the London 2012 Olympics. Both the men’s and women’s teams are poised to make a significant impact in Paris, showcasing Ethiopia’s rich tradition in distance running.
