Haile Gebrselassie - the greatest runner all time?

"A brief tribute to the Mens Marathon World Record Holder"

Haile Gebrselassie, could easily be named the best distance runners all time.

A few runners deserve some special words on any running/marathon site - and Haile Gebrselassie and Paula Radcliffe are definitely two of them.

One of my most special running memories from my own running career was at the Bislett Games in Oslo in 1999.

I was 21 years old. Fresh from my first 5000 meter run - after a career as a middle distance runner. And on the starting line together with the great Haile Gebreselassie.

The picture above is a very young me (with him in front) from after that race.

It was extremely intimidating though exciting to be on the starting line with a star like Haile.

I ended up with a 13.22 personal best, while Haile just dipped under 13 minutes. After the finish, the memories he gave me ; with his welcoming attitude and normality despite his greatness made the day for a young upcoming athlete like myself.

Haile, the greatest ?

Haile Gebrselassie is reputedly the greatest track and road long distance runner the world has ever seen (though watch out, Kenny Bekele is coming fast!) Just a quick look at his amazing medal history and World Record he holds will tell you this is no idle claim.

I was impressed by him when I was young and saw him race internationally for the first time.

And even more impressed when he even managed to move up to the marathon with such success.

The incredible long distance running span of Haile

Born in Ethiopia, Gebrselassie is known for his versatility, holding medals and current/former World Records for distances spanning from 1500 meters to the marathon. He is so famous and revered that he is Ethiopia's Olympic emblem.

With a unique range, he is almost equally adept at

indoor,
outdoor ,
and cross country events.

And of course road running and the marathon.

As well as quite a stash of Olympic and World Championship medals, Gebrselassie has broken an incredible 25 world records (!)

He is the current Marathon World Record holder, in a career spanning more than 10 yeas at the top of his sport. Haile Gebreselassie, set his first world record for the indoor 2,000 meters.

The start of inernational fame in 1992, 5000 and 1000 WJ Gold

His international fame began back in 1992 with wins in the 5,000-metre and 10,000 meter races at the junior World Championships. The same year, he won a silver medal in the World Cross Country Championships.

1993 was another great year for Gebrselassie as he won his first world championships title in the men's 10,000 meters, which he held for the next four world championships.

In these years he also won many other medals, including a silver in the 5,000-metre race in the 1993 World Championships.

Not many athletes swap distances as effectively as Gebrselassie as the training and race technique can actually be quite different.

It is this, as well as his amazing success rate, which makes Gebrselassie so remarkable. His world records and medals just go on and on.

Marathon world record holder - Haile Gebrelassie with 2.04 !

The 21st century was when Gebrselassie turned to marathons.

He was 2001 World Half Marathon Champion.

And his full marathon debut was in the 2002 London Marathon.

Since leaving the track after the 2004 Olympics, Gebrselassie has focused on road racing and the marathon and has competed in many, all over the world.

In 2006 he beat the world half marathon record by all of 21 seconds. In 2006, Gebrselassie referred to his nine placing in the London Marathon as the worst race in his career..

He came back in style to win the Berlin Marathon that same year, before hitting his fantastic 2.04 the 30th of December 2006.

He is not done yet and I really hope in the future to see more of the small-great-man.