Athletes

If Haile Gebrselassie had lived closer to his school he might not be where he is today — and he might also have a slightly better running technique.

Growing up in Arsi, Ethiopia, he would run 10km to — and from — school every day, with his books under one arm. This gave him an outstanding grounding for endurance running — but also left him with a distinctive posture: a slightly crooked left arm.

Running became a pleasure as opposed to a chore when Haile discovered that he could put his miles to good use by entering races. He didn’t get off to a winning start, however — he finished eighth in the junior race at the 1991 World Cross Country Championships — and although he improved to second place the next year, he never did master the terrain.

It’s on the track and, later in his career, on the roads where he excels.

He won the 5000m/10,000m double at the 1992 World Junior Championships, and almost replicated the feat one year later when he made his senior World Championships debut: silver in the 5000m, gold in the 10,000m. This was the first of six consecutive global 10,000m titles — four world, two Olympic — that Haile would win as he established himself as the world’s greatest distance runner.

Along with winning race after race, Haile became a record-breaking machine, indoors and out. He also demonstrated his amazing range in 1998 by clocking 3:31.76 — the second-fastest of all time — for 1500m indoors and later setting a 10,000m world record outdoors: 26:22.75.

But all good things come to an end, and after having to settle for a 10,000m bronze at the 2001 World Championships, Haile switched to the roads and found success instantly, winning the world half-marathon title. The following year he recorded the fastest marathon debut of all time — 2:06:35 — in London.

And although it would be another three years before he returned to the 26.2-mile event, he did so with an eye on the world record. It took him several attempts, but in September 2007 he romped to victory in Berlin in 2:04:26. .

The indefatigable Gebrselassie remains as motivated as ever and set his 26th world record or world best by becoming the first man to run a sub-2:04 marathon with a 2:03:59 performance on the streets of Berlin last September. That is an eye-popping average of 4:43.7 per mile!

He’s just as driven off the track, too, and has ploughed most of his career winnings into building a business empire that’s created hundreds of jobs for people in his country.

Interview

Q Is it true that you eat fast food?

A Only after a win will I allow myself to eat fast food. My normal diet consists of vegetables and injera. Injera is our traditional food. It’s made of teff. Teff is grown in Ethiopia and is a very rich grain with a lot of minerals.

Q How significant was your childhood in defining your running career?

A I always had to rush to get to school on time, so I had to run fast. I started enjoying running more and more, but I had to do a lot of work on the land of my father and family. When I was older I trained myself after school and soon became addicted to running. I was dreaming of being the next Miruts Yifter [1980 Olympic 5000m and 10,000m gold medallist].

Q Why have Ethiopians been so consistently successful in distance running? 

A Because of our genes, our food [teff], our tradition and the poverty in our country.

Q Your father didn't want you to run. Was it easy to defy him?

A No. I had to escape to Addis Ababa to ensure that I could start training secretly. But after I won a Mercedes-Benz at the 1993 World Championships he could see that running could be beneficial. He’s always supported me after that.

Q You have children of your own. Do any of them show an inclination to follow in your footsteps?

A Up to now, not so much. Sometimes I think they are getting a little bit lazy. But they are always my best supporters. And so one day, who knows?

Q Who has been your toughest opponent?

A There have been many good opponents in my career. But for most of it Paul Tergat was my big opponent. We fought many big battles at World Championships and Olympics. I was very happy, of course, to be able to win most of them. But on the other hand, in contrast to Paul, cross-country running was always difficult for me.

Q Does it make you uncomfortable to have so much money when many of your compatriots have so little?

A Yes. But with my money I hope to do many things for my compatriots. I have set up businesses and I have my schools.

Q Is there anything you are not good at?

A Yes, of course. Nobody is perfect!

Q Is it true that the song Scatman makes you run faster?

A Yes, because its rhythm is a little bit faster then the rhythm of my legs. That always motivated me. But this is more for the track, not for the marathon.