Ghirmay Ghebreslassie

Ghirmay Ghebreslassie (Ge'ez: ግርማይ ገብረስላሰ, born 14 November 1995) is an Eritrean long distance runner. He won the 2015 World Championships in Athletics marathon in Beijing, China, becoming the youngest winner of the race at age 19 and became the first Eritrean to win a gold medal at the World Championships. On 6 November 2016, Ghirmay was the top men's finisher at the New York City Marathon, becoming the youngest male to ever win the race.[1]

Ghirmay Ghebreslassie

Ghebreslassie in 2015
Personal information
Nationality	Eritrean
Born	14 November 1995 Kisadeka, Eritrea
Sport
Country	Eritrea
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	10,000 m, marathon
Medal record Representing  Eritrea World Championships 2015 Beijing Marathon

Early life

Ghirmay was born on 14 November 1995 in Kisadeka, a village 115 km (71 mi) from the Eritrean capital Asmara. His talent was spotted by a physical education teacher who saw him running with his friends and encouraged him to take up running. Ghirmay was initially concerned this would affect his academics but was convinced he could follow in the footsteps of Zersenay Tadese and manage both. His father was opposed to his running but success on the track fixed this concern.[2][3]

Running career

Ghirmay placed 7th at the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships Junior men's race in Bydgoszcz, Poland. He also placed 7th at the 2014 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships senior men's race in Copenhagen, Denmark.[2]

On 22 August 2015, Ghirmay unexpectedly won the marathon race at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics, becoming the youngest ever world marathon winner, at the age of 19. He took the lead at the 36 km mark. As he entered Beijing National Stadium for the final lap, he was in a close race with Ethiopian Yemane Tsegay. Ghirmay was able to produce one final sprint in the last 100 m to outlast his competitor. He was running in only his fourth marathon.[4][5]

Ghirmay finished in fourth place at the 2016 London Marathon, achieving a personal best time of 2:07:46.[6][2]

Going into the 2016 Olympics, Ghirmay, by virtue of his world championship, was considered a medal contender in the Marathon event.[7] He placed fourth.[8]

On 6 November 2016, Ghirmay was the top men's finisher at the New York City Marathon, becoming the youngest male to ever win the race.[1]

Personal bests[2]

Race	Time	Place	Date
10,000 metres (track)	28:33.37	Hengelo (Blankers-Koen Stadion)	27 May 2012
10 kilometres (road)	28:21	Gothenburg	18 May 2014
15 kilometres	42:43	Gothenburg	18 May 2014
20 kilometres	57:07	Copenhagen	29 March 2014
Half marathon	1:00:09	Paderborn	30 March 2013
25 kilometres	1:13:42	Chicago	12 October 2014
30 kilometres	1:28:13	London	24 April 2016
Marathon	2:07:46	London	24 April 2016

References

1. Aimee Berg (November 6, 2016). "Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, 20, youngest male to win New York City Marathon". USA Today. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
2. "IAAF: Athlete profile for Ghirmay Ghebreslassie". iaaf.org. Archived from the original on 2015-08-26. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
3. "Teen trailblazer". spikes.iaaf.org. September 21, 2015. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
4. "Ghirmay Ghebreslassie makes marathon history in Beijing". BBC. August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
5. Phillips, Luke (August 22, 2015). "Unheralded Eritrean teen bags first gold of athletics worlds". Business Insider. AFP. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
6. Amy Willis (April 24, 2016). "London Marathon results 2016: Who won and where did everyone else come?". Metro. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
7. "In The Marathons, Look For Duels Between The Kenyans And Ethiopians". National Public Radio. August 13, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
8. Jere Longman (August 20, 2016). "Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya Wins Marathon; Galen Rupp Takes Bronze". New York Times. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016.

External links

• Ghirmay Ghebreslassie at World Athletics