Olympic Gold Medalist. He was a long distance runner who won gold medals in both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters events at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. He spent early parts of his youth working in different factories and as a carriage driver. His talent as a long-distance runner was noticed when he joined the Ethiopian Air Force. He was called to the Ethiopian national team for the 1968 Summer Olympics, but his actual debut came four years later in Munich where he won a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters. He wasn't able to participate in the 1976 Olympics because his country boycotted the event. Four years later at the 1980 Summer Olympics, he not only captured gold in the 10,000 meters event, but also in the 5,000 meters event as well. During his athletic career, he also captured gold at the All-Africa Games (1973, 10,000 meters), African Championships (1979,5,000 and 10,000 meters), and the IAAF World Cup (1977, 5,000 and 10,000 meters) (1979, 5,000 and 10,000 meters). He continued to compete into the early 1980s, running on Ethiopia's gold medal winning team at the 1982 and 1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Olympic Gold Medalist. He was a long distance runner who won gold medals in both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters events at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. He spent early parts of his youth working in different factories and as a carriage driver. His talent as a long-distance runner was noticed when he joined the Ethiopian Air Force. He was called to the Ethiopian national team for the 1968 Summer Olympics, but his actual debut came four years later in Munich where he won a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters. He wasn't able to participate in the 1976 Olympics because his country boycotted the event. Four years later at the 1980 Summer Olympics, he not only captured gold in the 10,000 meters event, but also in the 5,000 meters event as well. During his athletic career, he also captured gold at the All-Africa Games (1973, 10,000 meters), African Championships (1979,5,000 and 10,000 meters), and the IAAF World Cup (1977, 5,000 and 10,000 meters) (1979, 5,000 and 10,000 meters). He continued to compete into the early 1980s, running on Ethiopia's gold medal winning team at the 1982 and 1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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