The Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassiedouble Olympic champion of 10,000 meters (1996 and 2000) and four-time world champion at the same distance, He was convinced in an interview with EFE that “in two or three years we will see some athletes who will go down to two hours. in an official marathon, possibly Valencia”, and assured that, although the Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge is “a very big person, it will be difficult for him to achieve it”.
Gebrselassie (Asella, Ethiopia; 1973) is an athletic legend, although he does not consider it and downplays his outstanding record of achievements. With his lasting smile he spent a few days in Madrid, where he was honored by the organization of the Movistar Madrid Half Marathon.
His first races started early, at three years old. I had to run to school, barefoot, covering ten kilometers. Slightly older, with books in his arms because he didn’t have a purse, that gesture led him to adopt a posture that was largely his personal signature in his way of running. He laughingly said that he ran his “first marathons” when he was a child.
Over time he became an athletics star and, with a good physique measuring 1.65 meters, he began to collect titles and victories at an international level, breaking twenty world records seven times, one of them in a marathon. with 2h04: 26. He has become a formidable athlete in the long and middle distance. In 2015 he retired but his passion for all things athletics remains intact.
Q: How do you feel about the recognition of the Madrid Half Marathon?
A: I am very happy, I have been to Spain many times, but now, being here on the occasion of recognition of the Madrid Half Marathon makes me happy.
Q: Do you like the city?
A: Yes, I love it. My first visit to Madrid was in 1992. It is a wonderful city, but it has changed a lot since then. I have been many times and one of my favorite is its airport, I like its design.
Q: Did you enjoy Madrid’s cultural life with museums, theaters, musicals…?
A: I like musicals and theater, but I don’t go here often.
Q: Do you follow major athletics championships as a spectator, such as the last outdoor world championships in Budapest or the recent indoor world championships in Glasgow?
A: Yes, of course, I watch outdoor, indoor and cross country championships. Both the Budapest and Glasgow World Cups are great, with attractive brands.
Q: You ran 10,000 meters in 26:22 in Hengelo (Netherlands) in 1998. Joshua Cheptegei ran it in 26:11 in Valencia. Are we about to see someone drop 26 minutes to 10,000?
A: Yes, we may see in five years. Right now we don’t just look at the physical performance of the athletes. The technology, the footwear, the track, the stadium lighting or a hare marking from start to finish defines.
Q: As a runner you won several marathons, including Berlin four times. This year, at the Games, one of the big events was the marathon with Kelvin Kiptum and Eliud Kipchoge. How do you see racing today without Kiptum?
A: There are a lot of Kiptum today, believe me. Kiptum is an incredible athlete, very good. He is no longer in this world. But we will see that in the next two or three years other extraordinary people will come from the same countries.
Q: How would you describe Kipchoge?
A: Kipchoge is amazing. It’s not just your legs, but also your mind. He is a super man.
Q: Will you drop below a two-hour marathon in the short term?
A: Other athletes can do it. Kipchoge finds it difficult to achieve this. Maybe we’ll see it in two or three years.
Q: In Berlin? Valencia?
A: Right now it seems to be in Valencia, because it is a very fast track. Probably there. The average Ethiopian runner is under two hours and a minute in the big events, but a strong runner could be under two hours in Valencia soon.
Q: What do you think about all the fever that exists in marathons and the industry that has become with participants from all countries and famous trips around the world?
A: It is very important. Running should be a part of life. People have to keep it, not as an industry, but as a way of life. It is very important to do sports. If they can run better, but if not, walk or do some other sport they like.
Q: When talking about Haile Gebreselassie, one word people use is legend. Do you feel it?
A: No, no, Haile Gebreselassie has always been an athlete, I’m not saying he’s not good, but I don’t consider myself a legend, I don’t feel that way.
Q: One of the most important athletes today is Jakob Ingebrigtsen. want?
A: Oh yes, very good. In fact, the two brothers have an incredible tactic. He is a strong athlete. If anyone can beat Ethiopia and Kenya, it’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Is incredible.
Q: Looking back. Are you happy with the professional career you have?
A: I’m happy, I’m really happy. I did what I had to do. That’s it.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Jason Root, a professional writer working with Today Times Live, the premier news website. I specialize in sports writing, covering the biggest stories in the world of athletics. With an eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, I provide engaging and informative articles that capture the key elements of any event or issue. My work has been featured on numerous respected websites and publications around the world.
