Ethiopia at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Ethiopia at the 2004 Summer Olympics
IOC code	ETH
NOC	Ethiopian Olympic Committee
in Athens
Competitors	26 in 2 sports
Flag bearer	Abel Aferalign
Medals Ranked 28th	Gold 2 Silver 3 Bronze 2 Total 7
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984–1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

Ethiopia was represented at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece by the Ethiopian Olympic Committee.

In total, 26 athletes including 14 men and 12 women represented Ethiopia in two different sports including athletics and boxing.

Ethiopia won a total seven medals at the games including two gold, three silver and two bronze. Kenenisa Bekele was the country's most successful athlete at the games after winning gold in the men's 10,000 m and silver in the men's 5,000 m.

Competitors

In total, 26 athletes represented Ethiopia at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece across two different sports. ^[1]

Sport	Men	Women	Total
Athletics	12	12	24
Boxing	2	0	2
Total	14	12	26

Medalists

Further information: 2004 Summer Olympics medal table and List of 2004 Summer Olympics medal winners

Ethiopia won a total of seven medals at the games including two gold, three silver and two bronze. Kenenisa Bekele was the country's most successful athlete at the games after winning gold in the men's 10,000 m and silver in the men's 5,000 m. ^[1]

Medal	Name	Sport	Event	Date
Gold	Kenenisa Bekele	Athletics	Men's 10,000 m	August 20
Gold	Meseret Defar	Athletics	Women's 5,000 m	August 23
Silver	Kenenisa Bekele	Athletics	Men's 5,000 m	August 28
Silver	Sileshi Sihine	Athletics	Men's 10,000 m	August 20
Silver	Ejegayehu Dibaba	Athletics	Women's 10,000 m	August 27
Bronze	Tirunesh Dibaba	Athletics	Women's 5,000 m	August 23
Bronze	Derartu Tulu	Athletics	Women's 10,000 m	August 27

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics

In total, 24 Ethiopian athletes participated in the athletics events – Berhanu Alemu, Elfenesh Alemu, Kenenisa Bekele, Dejene Berhanu, Meseret Defar, Ejegayehu Dibaba, Tirunesh Dibaba, Kutre Dulecha, Sentayehu Ejigu, Gebregziabher Gebremariam, Haile Gebrselassie, Asha Gigi, Werknesh Kidane, Meskerem Legesse, Hailu Negussie, Tewodros Shiferaw, Sileshi Sihine, Mestawat Tadesse, Workenesh Tola, Ambesse Tolosa, Derartu Tulu, Luleseged Wale, Mulugeta Wendimu and Tereje Wodajo. ^[1]

Most of the athletics events took place at the Athens Olympic Stadium in Marousi, Athens from 18 to 29 August 2004. ^[2] The men's and women's marathons took place at the Panathenaic Stadium in Pangrati, Athens. ^[3]

Men

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Berhanu Alemu	800 m	1:46.26	2 Q	1:47.40	6	Did not advance
Kenenisa Bekele	5,000 m	13:21.16	1 Q	—		13:14.59
	10,000 m	—				27:05.10 OR
Dejene Berhanu	5,000 m	13:19.42	3 Q	—		13:16.92	5
Gebregziabher Gebremariam		13:21.20	2 Q	—		13:15.35	4
Haile Gebrselassie	10,000 m	—				27:27.70	5
Hailu Negussie	Marathon	—				DNF
Tewodros Shiferaw	3,000 m steeplechase	8:33.15	10	—		Did not advance
Sileshi Sihine	10,000 m	—				27:09.39
Ambesse Tolosa	Marathon	—				2:15:39	15
Luleseged Wale	3,000 m steeplechase	8:50.73	12	—		Did not advance
Mulugeta Wendimu	1,500 m	3:39.96	5 Q	3:41.14	4 Q	3:38.33	10
Tereje Wodajo	Marathon	—				2:21:53	46

Women

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Elfenesh Alemu	Marathon	—				2:28:15	4
Meseret Defar	5,000 m	14:52.39	1 Q	—		14:45.65
Ejegayehu Dibaba	10,000 m	—				30:24.98
Tirunesh Dibaba	5,000 m	15:00.66	1 Q	—		14:51.83
Kutre Dulecha	1,500 m	4:06.95	5 Q	4:07.63	8	Did not advance
Sentayehu Ejigu	5,000 m	15:01.31	2 Q	—		15:09.55	10
Asha Gigi	Marathon	—				DNF
Werknesh Kidane	10,000 m	—				30:28.30	4
Meskerem Legesse	1,500 m	4:18.03	12	Did not advance
Mestawat Tadesse		4:11.78	12	Did not advance
Workenesh Tola	Marathon	—				DNF
Derartu Tulu	10,000 m	—				30:26.42

Boxing

Main article: Boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics

In total, two Ethiopian athletes participated in the boxing events – Abel Aferalign in the bantamweight category and Endalkachew Kebede in the light flyweight category. ^[1]

The boxing events took place at the Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall in Peristeri, Athens from 14 to 29 August 2004. ^[4]

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Endalkachew Kebede	Light flyweight	Igarashi  (JPN) W 26–21	Zou Sm  (CHN) L 8–31	Did not advance
Abel Aferalign	Bantamweight	Dalakliev  (BUL) LRSC	Did not advance

References

1. "Ethiopia at the 2004 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
2. "Olympiako Stadio, Olympiako Athletiko Kentro Athinon Spiros Loues, Maroussi". Olympedia. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
3. "Panathinaiko Stadio, Athina". Olympedia. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
4. "Olympiako Gymnastirio Pygmakhias Peristeriou, Peristeri". Olympedia. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

External links

• Official Report of the XXVIII Olympiad
• Ethiopian Olympic Committee