Gezahegne Abera

Gezahegne Abera ( born April 23, 1978) is a former Ethiopian marathon runner who as so far the only male runner in both Olympic champion and world champion in this discipline. His personal best in the marathon is 2:07:54.

Life

Abera grew up in modest circumstances with seven siblings, including Daniel Abera, in the village of ETYA on in the present province of Oromia. On June 8, 2003 married Abera Alemu Elfenesh, one of the best Ethiopian marathoners.

Due to the sporting success in the marathon Abera gained great popularity in Ethiopia.

Sporting successes

He was fourth at the Los Angeles Marathon and finished eleventh at the World Athletics Championships in Seville in 1999. At the Fukuoka Marathon he won with his personal best of 2:07:54.

In 2000 he was second in the Boston Marathon and won gold at the Olympic Games in Sydney Erick Wainaina (Kenya) and his countryman Tesfaye Tola.

2001 Abera world champion in marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Edmonton. This led to a thrilling finale in which Abera with just one second prevailed ahead of the Kenyan Simon Biwott. In Fukuoka, he again won in 2:09:25.

2002 Abera won for the third time the Fukuoka Marathon in 2:09:13.

In 2003, he won the London Marathon in 2:07:56.

After injuries prevented participation in the 2003 World Championships and the Olympic Games 2004. Due to recurring injury ended his career at a relatively young age.