June 13, 1982
Kenenisa Bekele, ‘The King of Distance Running,’ dominates athletics with 3 Olympic golds and 17 world titles. Breaking 5K and 10K world records in 2004–2005 (still unbroken), this Arsi-born phenom inherited Haile Gebrselassie’s legacy while surpassing his achievements. Known for his explosive finishing kick, Kenenisa also holds the marathon world record (2:01:41, Berlin 2019). Off the track, he supports Ethiopian youth sports through the Kenenisa Foundation.
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