Gezahegne Abera

Gezahegne Abera, born on April 23, 1978, in Etya, Arsi Province, is a celebrated Ethiopian athlete renowned for his remarkable achievements in marathon running. His journey into international athletics began in 1999 when he competed in the Los Angeles Marathon, finishing fourth behind three Kenyan runners. This performance earned him a spot on the Ethiopian team for the 1999 World Championships, where he placed eleventh.

Later that same year, Abera claimed his first international marathon victory at the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan, a title he successfully defended in 2001 and 2002. His prowess was further showcased in 2000 when he finished second in the prestigious Boston Marathon, setting the stage for his Olympic triumph.

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the marathon unfolded into a thrilling contest between Abera, fellow Ethiopian Tesfaye Tola, and Kenyan Erick Wainaina. With a strategic surge at the thirty-seven-kilometer mark, Abera took the lead and maintained it to the finish line, becoming the youngest marathon champion since Juan Carlos Zabala in 1932.

In 2001, Abera made history by winning the World Championships, edging out Simon Biwott of Kenya by a mere second, thus achieving the rare Olympic-World Championships marathon double. His victory at the 2003 London Marathon, with a time of two hours, seven minutes, and fifty-six seconds, further solidified his status as a marathon legend.

Despite his early successes, Abera's career was marred by repeated injuries, which ultimately led to his retirement from competitive running at a young age. Today, he and his wife, Elfenesh Alemu, who also represented Ethiopia in the 2004 Olympics, run a hotel and property development business. Abera remains active in the athletics community as a member of the Ethiopian athletics federation committee.