Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassieis a retired Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon. Further to this, he won four world titles indoors and was the 2001 World Half Marathon Champion...
ProfessionRunner
Date of Birth18 April 1973
CityAsella, Ethiopia
expect minutes plan race run second
That was our plan. We didn't expect the first part of the race to be fast. Our plan was for the second part. My plan was to run under 59 minutes and that is what we did.
champion good learn london marathon olympic opinions paul runners winner
I can learn a lot from Paul. I need him to get his opinions. There are other good runners ? the Olympic and world champion and the London Marathon winner ? but with Paul there, it's good for us.
certainly chasing london record
I am still chasing the world record but London will certainly not be the place.
field given last london next parade record strong
When we parade in London next month, a world record will be the last thing on our minds, more so given the strong field that will be running.
last record
When we race in London a world record will be the last thing on our minds.
came change grown oh possible time yes
Oh yes, yes they did, but it came from a long time ago, it was not possible for me to change it. Me and the style, we have grown together.
gives love
I love the music. It gives you energy.
competitor learn learnt needed paul prepared ran
I needed Paul in the race, not only because he is my competitor but because he is my friend. When I see him run, I can learn a lot from him. When he ran the world record, I learnt from how he ran and how he prepared for it. I need him to get experience.
last next
If it happens, wonderful. If not, what can I do?. This is not my first competition. It's not my last competition. I will try for it next time. We'll see.
world hard business-world
I find the business world hard.
long getting-older use
The more you are getting older, you lose a little something. Of course there is another advantage, because of your long experience you can use it.
wind perfect victory
I remember in particular my first victory when I achieved a very fast time in what were perfect conditions but since then the wind has always been a factor against me.
running father thinking
My father didn't think running was sensible. He told me running is just wasting time.
crazy athlete winning
In the marathon a crazy athlete can just keep pushing from the beginning, at a championship you don't need a time just to win the race.