Bekele Debele

Last updated
Bekele Debele
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
World Cross Country Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1983 Gateshead Senior race
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1983 Gateshead Team race
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1984 East Rutherford Team race
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1985 Lisbon Team race
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1986 Neuchâtel Team race
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1987 Warsaw Team race
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1988 Auckland Team race
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1989 Stavanger Team race

Bekele Debele (born 12 March 1963) [1] [a] is an Ethiopian former long-distance runner who specialised in cross country running. His greatest achievement was winning the gold medal at the 1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, becoming only the second African man to do so.

Contents

During his career he was selected for Ethiopia at every edition of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships from 1982 to 1989. He helped win the junior team title in 1982 and shared in the senior team medals from 1983 to 1989, including a three-year undefeated streak for the Ethiopian senior team from 1983 to 1985.

He also competed in the 10,000 metres and represented Ethiopia in that event at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics. He was the bronze medallist on the track at the Friendship Games, having missed the 1984 Summer Olympics due to Ethiopia's boycott of the games.

Career

Early life

Bekele was born into an Eastern Orthodox family of rural farmers in Shewa and was raised alongside his two brothers and two sisters. He was illiterate for much of his young life. Due to his talent for running he was brought into the national military sports programme, which was typical during the reign of the Derg. There he received a basic education and proper training for long-distance running. Over his career, Bekele was coached by Roba Negussie, [2] a former Olympic sprinter and top Ethiopian coach who served as coach for Ethiopia's Olympic long-distance running team. [3] Bekele made his global debut at the 1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Running in the junior race, he placed tenth and was part of the winning Ethiopian team. [4]

World cross country titles

He won the San Blas Half Marathon at the start of 1983 with a time of 1:04:40 hours. [5] He emerged as a top level runner shortly afterwards at the 1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, narrowly defeating both Carlos Lopes and Some Muge to become the world champion and take the team gold medal with Ethiopia. All three athletes recorded the same time in the closest ever finish at the competition. He became the second African man to win the title after Mohamed Kedir, who won the previous year. [6] Later that year he competed in the 10,000 metres at the inaugural 1983 World Championships in Athletics. He ran a personal best of 27:49.30 minutes in the heats, but was a little slower in the final and placed tenth, just behind his team mate Kedir. [7] [8]

Bekele returned to defend his title at the 1984 IAAF World Cross Country Championships but was beaten on that occasion, placing eighth overall. However, he still led the Ethiopians to the team title. [9] He won the prestigious Cinque Mulini race the following month. [10] He hoped to compete at the 1984 Summer Olympics, but a Soviet-led boycott of the event meant Ethiopia did not send a team there. The eastern bloc countries that boycotted the games set up their own competition instead and Bekele took the 10,000 m bronze medal at the Friendship Games. [11] He ended the year with a win at the São Silvestre de Luanda 10K event. [12]

At the 1985 IAAF World Cross Country Championships he placed fourth behind fellow Ethiopian Wodajo Bulti and helped successfully defend the men's team title. [13] He also continued to compete on the track an took a victory at Moscow's Brothers Znamensky Memorial meet. [14] He repeated his fourth-place finish at the 1986 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Even though his team mate Abebe Mekonnen was runner-up, the Ethiopian team was outclassed by a strong Kenyan squad, including winner John Ngugi, and was relegated to second in the team rankings. [15]

Decline

The 1987 edition saw him fare poorly, finishing in 45th place, but he still reached the team podium as Ethiopia took third place. [16] His worst international performance came at the 1988 IAAF World Cross Country Championships: he ended up 83rd overall and finished almost three minutes after world champion Ngugi. He was the slowest competitor in Ethiopia's silver medal-winning team. [17]

At the 1988 Cross de San Sebastián Bekele fought against John Ngugi in a sprint finish, but ended the race as runner-up behind the reigning world champion. [18] This represented a brief improvement of form for what would be his final international outing at the 1989 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. At that event held in Stavanger he finished thirteenth and, alongside Tesfaye Tafa, he lifted Ethiopia into third place in the team competition. [19]

Notes

a In an interview with El Pais in 1984 Bekele stated (through an interpreter) that his date of birth was 12 April 1962, rather than 12 March 1963 which is found in most other sources. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenenisa Bekele</span> Ethiopian long-distance runner (born 1982)

Kenenisa Bekele Beyecha is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. He was the world record holder in both the 5000-metre and 10000-metre from 2004 until 2020. He won the gold medal in both the 5000 m and 10,000 m events at the 2008 Summer Olympics. At the 2004 Olympics, he won the gold medal in the 10,000 m and the silver medal in the 5000 m.

World Athletics Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Formerly held annually and organised by World Athletics, it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships. It was an annual competition until 2011, when World Athletics changed it to a biennial event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships</span> International athletics championship event

The 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place on April 1/2, 2006. The races were held at the Umi-no-nakamichi Seaside Park in Fukuoka, Japan, Japan's National Cross Country Course which is the permanent residence of the annual Fukuoka International Cross Country meeting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abebe Dinkesa</span> Ethiopian long-distance runner

Abebe Dinkesa Negera is an Ethiopian professional long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres. He came to prominence with a silver medal at the 2004 African Championships in Athletics and he won a bronze medal in the same event two years later. He is the sixth fastest ever over the 10,000 m with a best time of 26:30.74 set in 2005.

The 1989 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Stavanger, Norway, at the Scanvest Ring on March 19, 1989. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Gateshead, England, at the Riverside Park on March 20, 1983. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald and in the Evening Times.

The 1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Rome, Italy, at the Ippodromo delle Capannelle on March 21, 1982. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibrahim Jeilan</span> Ethiopian long-distance runner

Ibrahim Jeilan Gashu is an Ethiopian professional long-distance runner who specialises in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres on the track, as well as cross country running. He is a former world champion in 10,000 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayad Lamdassem</span> Moroccan-born long distance runner (born 1981)

Ayad Lamdassem El Mouhcine is a Moroccan-born long distance runner who competes for Spain internationally. He has represented Spain twice in the 10,000 metres at the Summer Olympics as well as the European Athletics Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muktar Edris</span> Ethiopian long-distance runner

Muktar Edris is an Ethiopian professional long-distance runner who competes in track and cross country races.

Erik De Beck is a Belgian former long-distance runner who specialised in cross country running. His greatest performance was a gold medal at the 1974 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. He shared in the team title at that event on three occasions: 1973, 1974 and 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Léon Schots</span> Belgian long-distance runner

Léon Schots is a Belgian former long-distance runner who competed in track and cross country running competitions. His greatest achievement was a gold medal at the 1977 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where he also led Belgium to the team title.

The Senior men's race at the 1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Gateshead, England, at the Riverside Park on March 20, 1983. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald and in the Evening Times.

The Junior men's race at the 1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Gateshead, England, at the Riverside Park on March 20, 1983. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald and in the Evening Times.

The Senior women's race at the 1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Gateshead, England, at the Riverside Park on March 20, 1983. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald and in the Evening Times.

Tolossa Kotu Terfe is an Ethiopian long-distance runner and coach. He placed fourth in men's 10,000 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics and has coached the national teams of both Ethiopia and Bahrain.

George Kiprotich "Kip" Rono is a Kenyan former steeplechase runner. He won a gold medal in the event at the 1979 African Championships in Athletics and was the first African steeplechase winner at the 1979 IAAF World Cup.

Kipsubai Koskei is a Kenyan former long-distance runner. His greatest success was a 10,000 metres gold medal at the African Championships in Athletics in 1985, which he won in a championship record time of 28:11.70 minutes. He was bronze medallist in the 5000 metres that same year and returned the following year to win a silver medal in the 10,000 m.

Hans-Jürgen Orthmann is a German former long-distance runner who competed for West Germany. He made thirteen consecutive appearances at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships from 1975 to 1987. His highest honour was a silver medal in 1980. He was a seven-time national champion, taking three titles in cross country running, two in road running and two in track.

David Robert Clarke is a British former distance runner who competed over distances from the 1500 metres to the marathon. He represented Great Britain over 5000 metres at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics and the 1981 Summer Universiade.

References

  1. ↑ Bekele Debele. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-08-24.
  2. 1 2 Mora, Juan (1984-01-28). Bekele Debele, el meior 'hombrecillo verde'. El Pais . Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  3. ↑ Negussie Roba (1935-1992). Ethiopians. Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  4. ↑ IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1982 Men's Junior race. AthChamps (archived). Retrieved on 2013-08-24.
  5. ↑ San Blas Half Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2013-02-05). Retrieved on 2013-08-24.
  6. ↑ IAAF World Crosscountry Championships. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2013-02-05). Retrieved on 2013-08-24.
  7. ↑ IAAF World Championships in Athletics > 1st IAAF World Championships in Athletics > 10,000 Metres - men. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  8. ↑ IAAF World Championships in Athletics > 1st IAAF World Championships in Athletics > 10,000 Metres - men. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  9. ↑ New York The Meadowlands Date: Sunday, March 25, 1984. Athchamps (archived). Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  10. ↑ Cinque Mulini. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  11. ↑ Olympic Boycott Games. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  12. ↑ São Silvestre de Luanda 10 km. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  13. ↑ Lissabon Sport Complex Jamor Date: Sunday, March 24, 1985. Athchamps (archived). Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  14. ↑ Znamensky Memorial. ARRS (2012-06-18). Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  15. ↑ Neuchatel Planeyse Colombier Date: Saturday, March 22, 1986. Athchamps (archived). Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  16. ↑ Warszawa Sluzewiec Date: Sunday, March 22, 1987. Athchamps (archived). Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  17. ↑ Auckland Elleslie Date: Saturday, March 26, 1988. Athchamps (archived). Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  18. ↑ Brillante victoria de Ngugi en el Cross de San Sebastián. ABC (1988-02-01). Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
  19. ↑ Stavanger Scanvest Date: Sunday, March 19, 1989. Athchamps (archived). Retrieved on 2013-08-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.