Elvan Abeylegesse
Encyclopedia
Elvan Abeylegesse (Amharic: አልቫን አበይለገሠ; born September 11, 1982) is an Ethiopia
n-born Turkish
middle
and long distance track and field
athlete, running in the disciplines of 1500 m, 3000 m and 5000 m, but also 10000 m, 2 miles and cross country
. She is the former world-record holder for 5000 m, at 14:24.68.
, Ethiopia
and raised with her seven brothers and sisters. She began her career running cross country. In 1999, she started for the Ethiopian junior team at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
and finished ninth. There, she was invited to a meeting in Istanbul
, Turkey
. Coming to Istanbul, she said that she liked it there very much. "I didn't get enough support from my federation in Ethiopia," she said. "My track club in Turkey gave me all the support I needed. So I decided to move to Turkey. The support was much better in Istanbul. I thought it would be easier to reach my goals in Turkey.” To get Turkish citizenship
, she married and took the name Elvan Can. She has since divorced and is now called Elvan Abeylegesse.
“As a youngster, my heroes were Ethiopian runners. I would follow the victories of Gete Wami
particularly”, Abeylegesse said. “I studied all their actions: how they slept, how they ate, how they trained, and how they competed.” Registered in the Enka Sports Club
in Istanbul, she is coached by Ertan Hatipoglu, a former triple jump
er of Turkish origin from Bulgaria
. She still has a friendly relationship with other Ethiopian runners, but there is a problem with her former federation. “The officials don’t allow me to train in Ethiopia any longer", Abeylegesse says. “I train now at high altitudes in Turkey as I think that some of my former compatriots see me as a threat. They are uncomfortable with me training in Ethiopia. But I, of course, remain friends with the individual Ethiopian runners.”
. She became a world leader with a time of 8:31:94 in the 3000 m in Brussels
, Belgium
in 2002 and with a time of 3:58.38 in the 1500 m in Moscow
, Russia
in 2004.
Abeylegesse has been a scholarship
holder with the Olympic Solidarity program since August 2002.
At the Evergood Bergen Bislett Games in Norway
on June 11, 2004, the sixth meeting of TDK Golden League, Abeylegesse broke the women’s 5000 m world record, which had belonged to Chinese runner Jiang Bo
since 1997 (14:28.09), improving the mark by over three seconds to 14:24.68. She became the first Turkish athlete ever to set a world record. "I worked very hard, day and night," Abeylegesse said, speaking through an interpreter. "My target since the first day I started running has been to break world records and become Olympic champion." Şarık Tara, the honorary president of her club, said, "I am proud of our daughter Elvan. Her achievement is an even greater success than our men's national soccer team
finishing third in the World Cup
."
On 3 June 2006 her record time was beaten by Ethiopia
n Meseret Defar
, who ran in 14:24.53 in New York City
.
She ran at the inaugural World 10K Bangalore
race in 2008 and finished in a dead heat with Grace Momanyi
, with both runners eventually being declared joint victors.
She was the 2010 recipient of the Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy, an annual award given by the International Fair Play Committee
. She had lent a pair of running shoes to competitor Meselech Melkamu
just moments before the beginning of the 10,000 metres final
at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
. Having forgotten to bring her shoes to the track, Melkamu went on to take the silver.
Abeylegesse won the 2010 edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
in a time of 1:07:07. This was the fastest ever time for a débutante in the half marathon
race and made her the sixth fastest woman overall. She played down suggestions of a permanent switch to longer road races, however, saying a marathon
debut would have to wait until after the 2012 London Olympics.
At the 2010 European Athletics Championships, Abeylegesse won gold in the 10,000 m
, finishing in 31 minutes, 10.23 seconds On 28 July 2010, and she won the silver medal in 5000m
finishing in 14 minutes, 54.44 seconds on 1 August 2010. She narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup
, finishing two seconds behind Molly Huddle
in the 5000 m.
2000:
2001:
2002:
2003:
2004:
2006:
2007:
2008:
WR World record, ER European Record, NR National record, PB Personal best.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n-born Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
middle
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
and long distance track and field
Long-distance track event
Long-distance track event races require runners to balance their energy. These types of races are predominantly aerobic in nature and at the highest level, exceptional levels of aerobic endurance is required more than anything else...
athlete, running in the disciplines of 1500 m, 3000 m and 5000 m, but also 10000 m, 2 miles and cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
. She is the former world-record holder for 5000 m, at 14:24.68.
Early life and career
Abeylegesse was born Hewan Abeye on September 11, 1982 in Addis AbabaAddis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and raised with her seven brothers and sisters. She began her career running cross country. In 1999, she started for the Ethiopian junior team at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and finished ninth. There, she was invited to a meeting in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Coming to Istanbul, she said that she liked it there very much. "I didn't get enough support from my federation in Ethiopia," she said. "My track club in Turkey gave me all the support I needed. So I decided to move to Turkey. The support was much better in Istanbul. I thought it would be easier to reach my goals in Turkey.” To get Turkish citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
, she married and took the name Elvan Can. She has since divorced and is now called Elvan Abeylegesse.
“As a youngster, my heroes were Ethiopian runners. I would follow the victories of Gete Wami
Gete Wami
Getenesh Wami is a female Ethiopian cross country and track runner....
particularly”, Abeylegesse said. “I studied all their actions: how they slept, how they ate, how they trained, and how they competed.” Registered in the Enka Sports Club
Enkaspor
Enkaspor is a multi-sports club established in 1983 in Istanbul, Turkey by the Turkish construction conglomerate Enka Constructio Co..Enkaspor's main activities are in athletics, water polo, tennis and swimming with 353 women and 467 men in active sport as of December 2010.-Facilities:Sports...
in Istanbul, she is coached by Ertan Hatipoglu, a former triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
er of Turkish origin from Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. She still has a friendly relationship with other Ethiopian runners, but there is a problem with her former federation. “The officials don’t allow me to train in Ethiopia any longer", Abeylegesse says. “I train now at high altitudes in Turkey as I think that some of my former compatriots see me as a threat. They are uncomfortable with me training in Ethiopia. But I, of course, remain friends with the individual Ethiopian runners.”
Career highlights
Abeylegesse’s career in the international arena began at the age of 18 in Grosseto, Italy in 2001 by winning the European 3000 m and 5000 m titles, setting a national record for TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. She became a world leader with a time of 8:31:94 in the 3000 m in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 2002 and with a time of 3:58.38 in the 1500 m in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 2004.
Abeylegesse has been a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
holder with the Olympic Solidarity program since August 2002.
At the Evergood Bergen Bislett Games in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
on June 11, 2004, the sixth meeting of TDK Golden League, Abeylegesse broke the women’s 5000 m world record, which had belonged to Chinese runner Jiang Bo
Jiang Bo
Jiang Bo is a female Chinese middle distance runner. On 1997-10-18 in Shanghai she ran the 1500 metres in 3:50.98 minutes. This ranks her second in the world of all time, only behind world record holder Qu Yunxia.-References:...
since 1997 (14:28.09), improving the mark by over three seconds to 14:24.68. She became the first Turkish athlete ever to set a world record. "I worked very hard, day and night," Abeylegesse said, speaking through an interpreter. "My target since the first day I started running has been to break world records and become Olympic champion." Şarık Tara, the honorary president of her club, said, "I am proud of our daughter Elvan. Her achievement is an even greater success than our men's national soccer team
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
finishing third in the World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
."
On 3 June 2006 her record time was beaten by Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n Meseret Defar
Meseret Defar
Meseret Defar is a female long-distance runner from Ethiopia who competes chiefly in the 3000 metres and 5000 metres events. She has won medals at top-tier international competitions including Olympic and World Championship gold medals over 5000 metres...
, who ran in 14:24.53 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
She ran at the inaugural World 10K Bangalore
World 10K Bangalore
The World 10K Bangalore is an annual 10 kilometres road running competition which takes place in Bangalore, India. The competition was first held in 2008 and usually takes place in late May...
race in 2008 and finished in a dead heat with Grace Momanyi
Grace Momanyi
Grace Kwamboka Momanyi is a Kenyan long distance runner of the Kisii tribe.She won the 2000 and 2005 10K races at the Ottawa Marathon, setting a course record in her second victory. In 2006 she moved to Japan to represt local Dauhatsu athletics team, but was mostly out of action due to injuries....
, with both runners eventually being declared joint victors.
She was the 2010 recipient of the Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy, an annual award given by the International Fair Play Committee
International Fair Play Committee
The International Fair Play Committee , abbreviated as the CIFP, is a not for profit international non-governmental organisation which serves to foster sportsmanship in international competition. It presents awards annually at the World Fair Play Awards to recognise acts of fair play carried out by...
. She had lent a pair of running shoes to competitor Meselech Melkamu
Meselech Melkamu
Meselech Melkamu is an Ethiopian long-distance runner, who specializes in the 5000 metres, 10,000 metres and cross-country events...
just moments before the beginning of the 10,000 metres final
2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 10,000 metres
The women's 10,000 metres at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Olympic Stadium on 15 August. The Ethiopian team was particularly strong in the event, with two-time World Champion Tirunesh Dibaba, 5000 metres World Champion Meseret Defar, and African record holder Meselech...
at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
. Having forgotten to bring her shoes to the track, Melkamu went on to take the silver.
Abeylegesse won the 2010 edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.The first edition, in 2007, saw Samuel Wanjiru breaking the world record, but Wanjiru himself set a new world record only a month later in another race...
in a time of 1:07:07. This was the fastest ever time for a débutante in the half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
race and made her the sixth fastest woman overall. She played down suggestions of a permanent switch to longer road races, however, saying a marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
debut would have to wait until after the 2012 London Olympics.
At the 2010 European Athletics Championships, Abeylegesse won gold in the 10,000 m
2010 European Athletics Championships – Women's 10,000 metres
The women's 10,000 metres at the 2010 European Athletics Championships was held at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on 28 July.-Medalists:-Records:-Schedule:-Final:-References:*...
, finishing in 31 minutes, 10.23 seconds On 28 July 2010, and she won the silver medal in 5000m
2010 European Athletics Championships – Women's 5000 metres
The women's 5000 metres at the 2010 European Athletics Championships was held at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on 1 August.-Medalists:-Records:-Schedule:-Final:-References:*...
finishing in 14 minutes, 54.44 seconds on 1 August 2010. She narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup
2010 IAAF Continental Cup
The 1st IAAF Continental Cup was an international track and field sporting event held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations. Originally scheduled as the 11th IAAF World Cup in Athletics, it was renamed in 2008 when the IAAF revamped the competition format...
, finishing two seconds behind Molly Huddle
Molly Huddle
Molly Huddle in is an American athlete who competes in long distance track events. Huddle set the American record in the 5000m at the 2010 Memorial Van Damme Diamond League meet in Brussels, Belgium ....
in the 5000 m.
Personal life
Abeylegesse married her longtime partner Semeneh Debelie in February 2011 and decided to take the season off due to pregnancy. In July 2011, she gave birth to a girl named Arsema.Achievements
1999:- March 27 27th IAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsIAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsIAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
, BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern IrelandNorthern IrelandNorthern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
(6170 m Jr) 9th (22:03) - July 17 IAAF World Youth Championships in AthleticsIAAF World Youth Championships in AthleticsThe IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics is a global athletics event comprising track and field events for competitors who are 17 or younger . The event is organized by International Association of Athletics Federations . It is held biannually...
, Bydgoszcz, PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(3000 m) 5th (9:08:29) - August 6 15. European Athletics Junior ChampionshipsEuropean Athletics Junior ChampionshipsThe European Athletics Junior Championships are the European championships open for those of age. The IAAF defines Junior as athletes who are 19 years of age or under. It is currently organized by the European Athletic Association....
, RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, LatviaLatviaLatvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
(5000 m) (16:06:40)
2000:
- March 19 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, VilamouraVilamouraVilamoura is in the municipality of Loulé, in the Algarve, Portugal. Its boundaries lie within the parish of Quarteira. Vilamoura is a purpose built resort and Marina which was started from scratch by a wealthy banker from Porto, Cupertino de Miranda. The resort was started in 1974 and is still...
, PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(3150 m) 90th (14:30) - May 21 İzmirIzmirIzmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, Turkey (3000 m) (9:08:07) - October 17IAAF World Junior Championships, Santiago de Chile, ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
(5000 m) 6th (16:33:77) - October 22 IAAF World Junior Championships, Santiago de Chile, ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
(3000 m) 6th (9:28:0)
2001:
- March 24 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Oostende, NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(6170 m Jr) 22nd (23:30) - May 20 Clubs National Junior Athletics Champ 2nd Leg, Istanbul, Turkey (3000 m) (9:03:20)
- June 8 Istanbul, Turkey (3000 m) (8:41:49)
- July 27 European Junior Championships, GrossetoGrossetoGrosseto is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of the Province of Grosseto. The city lies 14 km from the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Maremma, at the centre of an alluvial plain, on the Ombrone river....
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(3000 m) (8:53:42) - July 28 Clubs National Athletics Championships, Istanbul, Turkey (1500 m) (4:11:31)
- July 20 European Junior Championships in Athletics, Grosseto, Italy (5000 m Jr) (15:21:12)
- August 9 8th IAAF World Championships in AthleticsIAAF World Championships in AthleticsThe World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
, Edmonton, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(heats) (5000 m) 8th (15:22:89) - September 12 Mediterranean Games2001 Mediterranean GamesThe 14th edition of the Mediterranean Games were held in Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia, from 2 to 15 September 2001. Twenty three nations competed in 23 different sporting events. France won the most gold medals in the competition while Italy had the greatest medal haul overall with 136 in...
, TunisTunisTunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, TunisiaTunisiaTunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
(10000 m) (32:29:20) PB - December 9 8th European Cross Country ChampionshipsEuropean Cross Country ChampionshipsThe European Cross Country Championships is an annual international cross country running competition. Organised by the European Athletic Association, it is the area championships for the region and is held in December each year...
, ThunThunThun is a municipality in the administrative district of Thun in the canton of Bern in Switzerland with about 42,136 inhabitants , as of 1 January 2006....
, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
(3150 m Jr) (10:35)
2002:
- May 11 İzmir, Turkey (1500 m) (4:11:00)
- August 11 18th European Championships in AthleticsEuropean Championships in AthleticsThe European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
, MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(5000 m) 7th (15:24:41) - August 30 Memorial van DammeMemorial Van DammeMemorial van Damme is an annual athletics event at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium that takes place in late August or early September...
, BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(Golden LeagueIAAF Golden LeagueThe IAAF Golden League was an annual series of track and field meetings organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations...
) (3000 m) 6th (8:31:94) PB - September 14 18th IAAF Grand Prix FinalIAAF Grand Prix FinalThe IAAF Grand Prix Final was an athletics competition featuring track and field events staged by the International Association of Athletics Federations...
, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(3000 m) 8th (9:01:50) - December 8 9th European Cross Country ChampionshipsEuropean Cross Country ChampionshipsThe European Cross Country Championships is an annual international cross country running competition. Organised by the European Athletic Association, it is the area championships for the region and is held in December each year...
, MedulinMedulinMedulin is a small town and municipality in the southern part of the Istrian peninsula in Croatia. As of the 2011 census the municipality has a population of 6,552, while the settlement proper has 2,633 inhabitants.Medulin's economy is based on tourism...
, CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
(6170 m) (20:19)
2003:
- May 11 İzmir, Turkey (3000 m) (8:42:29)
- May 25 Beograd, SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(1500 m) (4:07:25) - June 2 Grand Prix, HengeloHengeloHengelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands, in the province of Overijssel. The city lies along the motorways A1/E30 and A35 and it has a station for the International Amsterdam – Hannover – Berlin service.-Traffic and transport:...
, NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(5000 m) (15:06:75) - June 7 Istanbul, Turkey (2000 m) (5::33:83) PB
- August 30 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
Saint-Denis, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(5000 m) 5th (14:53:56) - September 13 1st IAAF World Athletics Final, MonacoMonacoMonaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
(5000 m) (14:56:25)
2004:
- May 14 Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix, DohaDohaDoha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
, QatarQatarQatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
(3000 m) (8:35:83) - May 30 European Champion Clubs' CupEuropean Champion Clubs' CupThe European Champion Clubs' Cup, also known as Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens, or simply the European Cup, is a trophy awarded annually by UEFA to the football club that wins the UEFA Champions League...
for Group A, MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(1500 m) (3:58:28) PB - June 11 Bergen Bislett GamesBislett GamesThe Bislett Games is an annual track and field event at the Bislett Stadion in Oslo, Norway. Previously one of the IAAF Golden League events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League. It is sponsored by ExxonMobil and officially known as the ExxonMobil Bislett Games.-History:The first...
(Golden League), Bergen, NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
(5000 m) (14:24:68) WR - June 19 European Cup 1st League, İstanbul, Turkey (3000 m) (8:49:14)
- August 23 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, GreeceGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(5000 m) 12th (15:12:64) - August 28, 2004 Summer Olympics, Athens, Greece (1500 m) 8th (4:00:67)
- September 18 IAAF World Athletics FinalIAAF World Athletics FinalThe IAAF World Athletics Final was an annual track and field competition organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was inaugurated in 2003 to replace the IAAF Grand Prix Final. The competition was part of the IAAF World Athletics Series and was the culmination of the...
, MonacoMonacoMonaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
(5000 m) (14:59:19)
2006:
- August 12 2006 European Championships in Athletics2006 European Championships in AthleticsThe 19th European Athletics Championships were held in Gothenburg, Sweden, between 7 August and 13 August 2006. The competition arena was the Ullevi Stadium and the official motto "Catch the Spirit"...
, GothenburgGothenburgGothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
(5000 m) (14:59:29)
2007:
- August 25 2007 World Championships in Athletics2007 World Championships in AthleticsThe 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
, OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(10000m) (31:59.40)
2008:
- August 15 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(10000m) (29:56.34) ER - August 22, 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing, China (5000m)
WR World record, ER European Record, NR National record, PB Personal best.
Personal bests
| Discipline | Performance | Place | Date |
| 1500 m | 3:58:28 | Moscow, Russia | May 30, 2004 |
| 2000 m | 5:33:83 | İstanbul, Turkey | June 7, 2003 |
| 3000 m | 8:31:94 | Brussels, Belgium | August 30, 2002 |
| 5000 m | 14:24:68 | Bergen, Norway | June 11, 2004 |
| 10000 m | 29:56:34 | Beijing, China | August 15, 2008 |
World records
| Discipline | Performance | Place | Date | Athlete |
| 1500 m | 3:50:46 | Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... , China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
September 13, 1993 | Qu Yunxia Qu Yunxia Qu Yunxia is a Chinese Olympic athlete who specialized in the 1500 metres.At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona she won a bronze medal on 1500 m. In 1993 she achieved the still standing world record in the 1500 metres at 3:50.46 minutes while running in the National Games of the People's... , China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
| 2000 m | 5:25:36 | Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... , United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
July 8, 1994 | Sonia O'Sullivan Sonia O'Sullivan Sonia O'Sullivan in Cobh, County Cork. She began her running career in Ballymore Running Club which is located in the eastern side of Cobh Town. She was one of the world's leading female 5000 m runners for most of the 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century... , Ireland Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth... |
| 3000 m | 8:06:11 | Beijing, China | September 13, 1993 | Wang Junxia Wang Junxia Wang Junxia is a Chinese former long-distance runner.-Career:Wang was coached by Ma Junren until 1995 and by Mao Dezhen from 1995 to her retirement after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.... , China |
| 5000 m | 14:11:15 | Oslo Oslo Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King... |
June 6, 2008 | Tirunesh Dibaba Tirunesh Dibaba Tirunesh Dibaba also known as Tirunesh Dibaba Kenene is an Ethiopian long distance track athlete and the outdoor 5000 metres world record holder. She is the current Olympic 5000 metres and 10,000 metres champion... , Ethiopia Ethiopia Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2... |
| 10000 m | 29:31:78 | Beijing, China | September 8, 1993 | Wang Junxia, China |
Performance progression
| Discipline | Season | Performance | Place | Date |
| 1500 m | 2004 | 3:58:28 | Moscow, Russia | May 30, 2004 |
| 1500 m | 2003 | 4:07:25 | Beograd, Serbia | May 25, 2003 |
| 1500 m | 2002 | 4:11:00 | İzmir, Turkey | May 11, 2002 |
| 1500 m | 2001 | 4:11:31 | Istanbul, Turkey | July 28, 2001 |
| 2000 m | 2003 | 5:33:83 | Istanbul, Turkey | June 7, 2003 |
| 3000 m | 2004 | 8:35:83 | Doha, Qatar | May 14, 2004 |
| 3000 m | 2003 | 8:42:29 | İzmir, Turkey | May 11, 2003 |
| 3000 m | 2002 | 8:31:94 | Brussels, Belgium | August 30, 2002 |
| 3000 m | 2001 | 8:53:42 | Grosseto, Italy | July 21, 2001 |
| 3000 m | 2000 | 9:08:07 | İzmir, Turkey | May 21, 2000 |
| 3000 m | 1999 | 9:08:29 | Bydgoszcz, Poland | July 17, 1999 |
| 5000 m | 2004 | 14:24:68 | Bergen, Norway | June 11, 2004 |
| 5000 m | 2003 | 14:53:56 | Paris, France | August 30, 2003 |
| 5000 m | 2002 | 15:00:49 | Hengelo, Netherlands | June 2, 2002 |
| 5000 m | 2001 | 15:21:12 | Grosseto, Italy | July 20, 2001 |
| 5000 m | 2000 | 16:33:77 | Santiago de Chile, Chile | October 17, 2000 |
| 5000 m | 1999 | 16:06:20 | Riga, Latvia | August 7, 1999 |
| 10000 m | 2008 | 29:56.34 | Beijing, China | August 15, 2008 |
| 10000 m | 2006 | 30:21.67 | Antalya, Turkey | April 15, 2006 |
| 10000m | 2001 | 32:29:20 | Tunis, Tunisia | September 12, 2001 |