Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian former long-distance track, road running athlete, and businessman. He won two Olympic gold medals and four World Championship titles over the 10,000 metres. Haile triumphed in the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon. He also earned four world titles indoors and was the 2001 World Half Marathon Champion.
Haile in 2012
Haile (second, in green) on the way to becoming two-time 10,000 m Olympic champion in Sydney in 2000
Haile in New York in 2003
Haile shortly before winning the 2005 Amsterdam Marathon
The 10,000 metres or the 10,000-metre run is a common long-distance track running event. The event is part of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and is common at championship-level events. The race consists of 25 laps around an Olympic-sized track. It is less commonly held at track and field meetings due to its duration. The 10,000-metre track race is usually distinguished from its road running counterpart, the 10K run, by referring to the distance in metres rather than kilometres.
10,000 metres at 2000 Summer Olympics, Sydney
Taisto Mäki from Finland breaks the 30-minute barrier in Helsinki on 17 September 1939.
Kenenisa Bekele (right), the former 10,000 m world record holder.