Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele retained his Olympic title in the 10,000 meters, relying on a sprint to pull away from countrymen Sileshi Sihine. Bekele’s time was 27:01.17. Micah Kogo of Kenya came in third for the bronze medal. Bekele, who set the world record for the distance in 2005, did not best that time today, but he did set a new Olympic record, beating the record he set in Athens in 2004.

Although Gebrselassie finished only sixth, his performance in this race helped set the pace for his compatriots. Gebrselassie took gold in the 10,000 meters at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and the Sydney games in 2000.

“I had very good preparation and am delighted to have won the Olympic gold for the second time,” said Bekele, who may well now run the 5,000m.

Asked whether he could now compare himself with Gebrselassie, who was also a double Olympic 10,000m champion, Bekele answered, “Before I can do that, I’ll have to win big races for quite a few more years yet.”

“I would have liked to be higher up the field, but in the end the pace was too strong for me,” said Gebrselassie. “I knew that Kenenisa would win. And if he runs the 5,000m, he’ll win that as well.” Gebrselassie will now continue his preparations for running the Berlin Marathon at the end of September. There he wants to bring his world record of 2:04:26 under 2:04.

Surprisingly, the 35-year-old Gebrselassie said that Beijing would not be his last Olympics; he said he plans to run in 2012 in London, though he’s not yet decided whether he will attempt the 10,000 or the marathon.

^{Video - Bekele wins Beijing Olympic 10,000m, Sileshi wins silver}

Beijing - Ethiopian distance running wonder Tirunesh ‘the Baby-Faced Destroyer’ Dibaba completed her collection of big titles with the elusive Olympic gold, over 10,000m at the Beijing Games on Friday. Dibaba used her famous kick in the final lap to run away from the last rival, Ethiopian-born Turkey runner Elvan Abeylegesse, and grabbed gold in the second best time in event history 29 minutes 54.68 seconds.

Abeylegesse got the first ever medal for Turkey’s women and the best overall after two men’s bronze, clocking 29:56.34. Only world record holder Jungxia of China had dipped below 30 minutes before in her 29:31.78 from 1993. Shalana Flanagan of the US got bronze. Victory for Dibaba came after after a 5,000m bronze in 2004. Only aged 22, Dibaba also has 5,000m world titles from 2003 and 2005, and 10,000 crowns from 2005 and 2007. She also plans to run the 5,000 in Beijing.

^{Video - Tirunesh Dibaba wins Beijing 10,000 Aug.15 2008}

See Pictures

The Contenders: #1 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), #3 Moses Ndiema Masai (KEN), #10 Sileshi Sihine (ETH), #18 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH), #19 Micah Kogo (KEN), #22 Martin Mathathi (KEN)

The Stats: Records, 2008 List,
2007 Worlds, 2004 Olympics

The Medal Picks: T&FN - Bekele, Sihine, Mathathi;
SI - Bekele, Sihine, Masai

The Story: This event is dominated by Ethiopia and Kenya, and Ethiopia has been recently taking the best of the former. The Ethiopians have entered their three greatest runners of the last two decades: “The Emperor” Gebrselassie, his heir Bekele, and Sihine, who in five tries has never lost to anyone but these two in a championship 10k. A sweep would be surprising only in that Geb seems to have lost a little bit of the edge necessary for track racing.

The Kenyans answer with a young track runner (Masai, their Trials 10k champ), a cross-country specialist (Mathathi, bronze at last year’s Worlds 10k), and a road racer (Kogo). None are exactly chopped liver, but neither do they have the credentials of their Ethiopian counterparts.

The only other runner likely to have a shot at the medal stand is American Abdirahman, who is having the best year of his career. He set a big PR (27:14) at the Prefontaine Classic and handily won the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Note: Athletes’ rankings refer to TheFinalSprint.com’s World Points Standings, and medal picks come to us from Track & Field News and Sports Illustrated, respectively.

Accordingly, the Ethiopian athletes scheduled to travel to the Beijing Olympics in three categories obliged to do their training outside Addis Ababa by travelling around 300 kilometres east of the capital.

“The rains in Addis Ababa had been a challenge for the athletes. That is why they have now moved to another place outside Addis Ababa,” Tesema Mamo, coach of the middle distance told APA.

He indicated that the athletes, both in the short and middle distance are currently being trained outside Addis Ababa in order to adapt to the Beijing weather, which is reported to be hot.

“That is why their travel has been delayed to make them adapt with the hot weather. This will help them to better compete in their respective events,” Mamo added.

Over 30 Ethiopian athletes are due to compete in the Beijing Olympics, including Haile Gebreselassie, who has broken over 20 world records in the short and long distance.

Genreselassie, who is currently holding the world marathon record, will participate in the 10,000 metres along with other Ethiopian athletes.

Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba, the world 5,000 metres record holder is also expected to break her own record in this distance while her sister, Inspector Ejigayehu Dibaba has also travelled to Beijing to compete in her favourite race, the 10,000 metres.

Kenenisa Bekele, who holds the world 10,000 metre record for men, is also expected to break his own record, but he will face a great challenge from the usual Kenyan athletes.

The Ethiopian athletes will participate in the 5,000, 10,000, 1,500, 3,000 metres and the marathon as well as in boxing.

It will be the first time for the Ethiopian athletics team to take part in boxing this year since the country started participating in the Olympics several decades ago.

BEIJING (AFP) — Sports is filled with bitter country rivalries which add extra spice - such as India and Pakistan, Brazil and Argentina - and in athletics it is Ethiopia and Kenya fighting to be the pride of East Africa.

In Beijing, the two will clash at an Olympics for the umpteenth time in the search to be the premier middle-to-long distance racing country, and while just one athlete can ascend the top of the podium there is far more at stake than solo glory.

Ethiopia started the drift towards African nations taking over distance racing - save the extraordinary Finn Lasse Viren in the 70’s - when a shoeless Abebe Bikila won the 1960 marathon gold in Rome.

He went on to win a second one in 1964 after recovering from appendicitis.

“I wanted the world to know that my country, Ethiopia, has always won with determination and heroism,” explained Bikila about why he had not worn shoes.

This was the typical attitude of the Ethiopians who come from a more disciplined and regimented regime than the Kenyans, who straddle the other side of the Rift Valley and have more or less lived under a democracy.

An Olympic medal these days increases an athlete’s value immeasurably on the international circuit - they can earn up to a million dollars a year - whereas when Kenya dominated in the 1970s through the likes of Kip Keino and Henry Rono, it really was the glory that they ran for.

For Ethiopia, led by Haile ‘the little Emperor’ Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele, their re-emergence as the dominant force in distance races, where they have stripped the Kenyans of everything including in 2004 their title of cross country kings after an 18 year reign, has been timely financially.

Richard Nerurkar, former leading British marathon runner and who has worked extensively in Kenya and then Ethiopia, says the Ethiopian athletes are more driven these days than their Kenyan counterparts for a simple social reason.

“In Ethiopia athletics is the main sport apart from football,” he told the Guardian newspaper.

“Very little happens there. Kenya is a much more advanced society where there are many more things to do.”

The Ethiopians - whose women led by Tirunesh Dibaba should once again stamp all over their Kenyan rivals - are also better looked after than their East African rivals, as former Kenyan 10,000 metres and marathon great Paul Tergat revealed a few years ago.

It may also explain why over the past 12 years the Ethiopians have looked that much more motivated.

“Runners in Ethiopia are appreciated more,” Tergat told the Guardian.

“The government gives them free plots of land to build houses on. In Kenya runners are treated like commodities, though, things are getting better.”

Things would get immeasurably better should they somehow manage to wrest away the title of the best East African distance running nation at these Olympics, but the odds are heavily stacked against them.

According to a release from the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, the Ethiopian athletes will travel to Beijing in three categories beginning next Monday.

According to the trip schedules, the first team, which consists of runners competing in the 1500m, 3000m, and 10,000m, will fly on Monday (Aug. 11).

In this category, world known Ethiopian athletes Tirunesh Dibaba and her elder sister Ejigayehu Dibaba and Mestawet Tufa will travel to compete for the 10,000 metres women’s race, while in the 3,000 metres men’s race, Nahom Mesfin, Roba Gari and Yakob Jarso will participate.

In the women’s 3,000 metres race, Mekdes Bekele, Zemzem Ahmed and Sofia Mekonnen are participating, while in the men’s 1,500 metres race, Derese Mekonnen, Doma Dama and Mulugeta Wondimu will participate.

According to the scheduled flight program, the second team, comprising athletes for the Marathon and 10 kilometre race, will leave Addis on the 13th August in which many of Ethiopia’s best athletes are included.

The third team will fly to Beijing on the 15th August, which will include contestants in the 1500 and 5000 metres; and the last Ethiopian squad will leave on the 18th August, which will be exclusively composed of marathon runners.

On Wednesday, the first squad, comprising coaches, supporting staff and athletes from the boxing discipline will travel to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony while many of the other members of the delegation will miss the opening ceremony.

Former athlete Miruts Yifter, the only Ethiopian athlete to have won two gold medals in one Olympic in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres a decade ago will lead Ethiopia’s Olympic team to the opening ceremony.

“This travel program was made, taking into consideration the running programs for the athletes. We found it necessary for the athletes to stay here than going to early Beijing,” the Federation said.

The farewell ceremony was held at the Ethiopian national palace with the Ethiopian president Girma Wolde Giorgise, handing over the national flag to the team leader Haile Gebresilassie.

He encouraged them to do their best and bring home plenty gold medals.

“Representing Ethiopia in the Olympic is a major task and responcibility.Your country is proud of you and expects a lot from your participation,” president Girma said.

The first Ethiopian team to Beijing also includes some government officials, coaches from each sport fields and group leaders.

Around 30 athletes will participate in eight athletics including boxing.

205 countries are expected to attend the Beijing Olympic which is the 29th since inception 1886 and held every four years.

Ethiopian Olympic Committee - History
When the Ethiopian Crown Prince Teferi Mekonnen paid a six-month visit to Europe in 1924, one of the countries he visited was France . The Eighth Olympic Games has been underway in Paris during his visit.(More…)

Ethiopia at the Olympics
Ethiopia first participated at the Olympic Games in 1956, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except for the 1976, 1984 and 1988 Games. (More…)

Ethiopia’s Beijing 2008 Team
With several months’ concerted work under their belts, Ethiopia’s athletes will head to Beijing bearing their nation’s hopes, and their own ambitions.(More…)

1960 Rome Olympics - Africa’s first Gold - Abebe

1964 Tokyo Olympics - Abebe

1980 Moscow Olympics - MiruTs (What a Finish!)

1992,2000 Barcelona and Sydney Olympics - Derartu

1996 Atlanta Olympics - Haile

2000 Sydney Olympics- Haile (Photo Finish!)

2004 Athens Olympics - Kenenisa

FIFA suspended the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) on Tuesday after it repeatedly failed to comply with a February 2008 agreement aimed at restoring its officially recognised leaders.

“The ban imposed by FIFA is illegal and EFF will take its case to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport,” the body said in a statement.

Unless the suspension is lifted, Ethiopia will not be able to play their next international match, a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Morocco on Sept. 7.

The statement urged FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to send a delegation to Ethiopia to investigate the problem.

What a difference a year can make!

Few observers who saw marathon runner Tsegaye Kebede enter the 2007 Abebe Bikila International Marathon in July last year as an unknown but emerge victorious in a new course record time would have thought that he would be carrying Ethiopia’s hopes for medals at the 29th Beijing Olympics.

But after a 2:06.40 performance en route to victory in the 2008 Paris International Marathon and several solid half marathon and 10km performances throughout the year, the 22-year old is now being touted as a genuine hope for medals in Beijing.

“I never thought that I could make the Olympic team this year,” he says. “I have always known that I am talented, but I did not expect to do well.”

Short career, outstanding success

Kebede’s rise to the top level has shocked the athletics community in Ethiopia. After all, he has only been training seriously for less than two years and competed internationally for less than a year.

Yet he currently has the second best progression for Ethiopian marathon runner in a single year which includes 2:15.34 (2007 Abebe Bikila Marathon), 2:08.16 (Rotterdam Marathon), and then 2:06.39 (Paris). He also has two sub 60-minute performances (59.00 at Ras Al Khamiah and 59.88 at the Zayed Half Marathon) over the half marathon and two 10km victories during this period.

“I am exceeding my own expectations,” he says. “I do not think training is the only reason for my improvement. But I have big confidence in myself and my abilities.”

Desperate upbringing

Kebede has earned over USD 100,000 in prize money this year thanks to his focus on major city marathons and other lucrative road races. He lives a life on relative luxury, a far cry from the days where he says “I had nothing”.

“I know that many athletes say that they started from nothing, but to be honest, I do not think many of them were as poor as I was a few years ago,” says Kebede, who was the fifth child in a large family of thirteen children.

Life was a struggle for Kebede and his family who survived on the earnings of his father’s traditional carpeting work. Because the earnings were not enough to support the family, Kebede collected firewood near his town Gerar Ber, 42kms north of Addis Ababa, for sale in markets. Earnings from this work put him well under the WHO’s poverty barrier of 1USD per day.

“I made about ETB 2.50 (USD 0.30) a day,” he says. “I would buy bread and some tea and would have only one meal a day. After that, I had nothing left in my pocket. I had to wake up the following morning to go back to work in order to survive. If I didn’t, there would be no food.”

In order to survive, Kebede also got a side job as a herder in order to pay for his school and the rest of the family. It was in school that he started showing an interest in sport, but only started running in 1995 after watching kids from the neighbourhood training.

“I was not really serious about becoming an athlete,” he said. “I just run to stay fit and pass time.”

He took part in his first real race the following year finishing 20th in a regional cross country race only to incur the wrath of his angry father who thought his son was wasting his time.

“I never complained about our life and even ate whatever I get,” he recalls. “I did not even told my father that I had started training, but he found out somehow and was upset that I was wasting time.”

Bright beginning

Despite the disapproval of his father, Kebede continued his training part-time and got his lucky break in the most unlikely of circumstances.

“In September 2006, I took part in a half marathon organized on the occasion of the world tourism day in Addis Ababa,” he recalls. “I only finished 21st in the race, but what happened at the end of the race changed my life.”

Although Kebede endured a forgettable time in the race, he caught the attention of Getaneh Tessema, marathon coach and agent. Tessema asked Kebede to come for a trial race with his training group in a few days. He shocked Tessema by finishing second in a 10km time trial only losing out to Deriba Merga, who would go on to win the Great Ethiopian Run 10km less than six weeks later.

Unlikely circumstances open door to international debut

Kebede progressed well enough under Tessema’s tutelage to convince his coach that he was ready to make his international debut. But a week before he was scheduled to race in Holland, he was denied a visa support letter by the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) because he belonged to a pilot project not an established athletics club.

“I was upset but there was no choice,” he recalls. “Because I could not go, my coach put me in the Abebe Bikila Marathon.”

However, Kebede’s troubles were by no means over.

A week before race date, Kebede and team mates travelled to Entoto, a popular training venue for Ethiopian runners on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. On their way back, they ‘nearly died’.

“We took a bus on our way down and the driver could not control the brakes,” he painfully recalls. “He did not say a word to us because he was afraid we might panic in fear. He tried to control the car, but when he came up against a steep curve, it was over for us. The bus skidded off the main road and into the forests. We all screamed for help, but we were all crushed.”

While others sustained heavy injuries, Kebede was lucky to escape with just a small leg wound. Many of his team mates were ruled out of the marathon the following weekend, but Kebede got the all-clear to compete.

“I do not wish something like this to anyone,” he says. “All the time I was praying ‘God, I came to Addis to change the life of my family. Are you going to end my life here? Please save my life.’ My prayers were answered. I thought I would die for those few minutes, but I think I was given another life.”

Securing Olympic berth

Kebede did not waste his ‘new life’. He easily won the marathon prompting the EAF to give him the all clear to race overseas. He ran two successive 10km races, but his lucky break when he was entered in the Rotterdam Marathon.

“I was excited about running a full marathon outside Ethiopia,” he recalls of his experience. “In fact, I was so excited about being part of the leading group that I forgot to even look at the kilometre marks during the race.”

“When the top runners just took off at 35km, I felt that it was too early and just held back to conserve my energy. I knew something was wrong when I saw the stadium from a near distance. But at the finish, I was shocked to see 2:08 on the clock. I knew that no one apart from Haile [Gebrselassie] had run 2:08 in Ethiopia that year. I was so happy.”

Confirming rise

With many more autumn and spring marathons coming up, Kebede knew that his 2:08.16 might not be enough for a place in the Ethiopian Olympic team.

“Many people did not know me in Ethiopia because I had not run for my country,” he said. “Even after the 2:08, only some coaches and people in athletics knew about me.”

He sealed his place in Ethiopia’s Olympic team in Paris propelling him from fourth to second place in the 2008 Ethiopian lists. Because Deriba Merga run two seconds faster in London the following week, Kebede dropped down a place to third during the Olympic qualification but returned back to second following Gebrselassie’s decision to skip the marathon in Beijing.

“I am living in a dream,” he says. “This is so big and so important for me. I did not obsess about it all my life, although I wanted to run for my country in the Olympics. I am just surprised that it has come early.”

Hopes for Beijing: Nothing but gold

Given his lack of experience in championship-styled marathon racing, one would expect Kebede to be cautious about his chances in Beijing.

But the youngster does not hold anything back when saying he is going for gold. “I am not experienced and it will be my first time running under our national colours,” he says. “But I am confident about my chances. I will be going for gold.”

Kebede’s marathon ambitions do not end there. “I have two big ambitions,” he says. “Apart from Haile, Ethiopia has not had many big marathon runners. I want to become a better marathon runner than I already am.”

How about popularity and the love his people?

“Every time I train at the Addis Ababa stadium, I look at the images of our Olympic champions on Olympic rings. There is a question mark [or a space open for future Olympic champions]. I want my photo instead of the question mark.”

Elshadai Negash for the IAAF