His name is Zersenay Tadese (born February 9, 1982 in Adi Bana), and London will be his first Marathon.He became the first person in Eritrean sporting history to win an Olympic medal. Zersenay took the bronze in the 10,000 meters at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece behind Ethiopians Kenenisa Bekele, and Sileshi Sihine.
In 2005, he won the Great North Run in Newcastle, with a record breaking time.
In April 2006, he finished fourth in the long race at the World Cross Country Championships, winning a silver medal in the team competition. On 2006-09-10 he won the Rotterdam Half Marathon, and in October 2006 he won the gold medal at the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships.
On December 31, 2006 he ran a new World Record over 10 kilometres road race in the San Silvestre Vallence race in Madrid. In a heavy battle between him and Eliud Kipchoge he finished in 26:54, breaking Haile Gebrselassie's record of 27:02. Tadese did however not win the race, he and Kipchoge were awarded the same time with Kipchoge as the winner of the race.
On March 24, 2007, he won the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, beating five time world cross country champion Kenenisa Bekele (who dropped out after Tadese had left him behind late in the race.)
On July 21, 2007 he won the 10,000 m at the All-Africa Games in Algiers.
In the World Athletics Championships he finished 6th and 4th in the 10,000m at the 2005 and 2007 events respectively.
On September 23, 2007 he won the Dam tot Damloop (which is 10 Miles) in the Netherlands in 45 minutes and 51 seconds. He finished a half minute before Bernard Kipyego and a minute before James Rotich.
He successfully defended World Road Running title, in Udine in 2007 and won a third title in Rio de Janerio in 2008.
Tadese took third place at the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in a closely contested race.
You shouldn´t miss: Eritrean Hero's Tribute Song
Mzungo.org says:
"Leads the race early on, then gets
dropped by Sammy W. beside
Hungerford Bridge. 3rd place finish. 2nd fastest
Marathon debut ever! Time Prediction: 2:05:28"
ShareThis