Selemon Barega aims to defend 10,000m gold at Paris Olympics tonight
Addis Ababa, August 2, 2024 (FBC) – At the Paris Olympics later today, Ethiopian long-distance runner Selemon Barega is aiming for a second Olympic gold medal in the men’s 10,000m race, which could potentially match an Olympic record held by his legendary compatriots Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie.
To match the achievements of legendary Ethiopian athletes Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie, Selemon Barega will need to overcome a strong competition from fellow Ethiopians Yomif Kejelcha and Berihu Aregawi, as well as top athletes from Kenya and other countries at the Paris Olympics tonight.
Selemon secured his first Olympic gold medal in the men’s 10,000m race at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. If he wins the gold medal tonight, he will join the ranks of Kenenisa and Haile as runners who have claimed the title twice.
Haile Gebrselassie won two Olympic gold medals in 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics and in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics. Meanwhile, Kenenisa Bekele achieved this feat in 2004 at the Athens Olympics and in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.
On the other hand, Gudaf Tsegay and her Ethiopian teammates Medina Eisa and Ejigayehu Taye will compete in the women’s 5000m semi-final qualifying heats at the Paris Olympics tonight.
Ethiopia, a nation known for its rich history and cultural heritage, has a long-standing tradition of producing world-class long-distance runners. The country first participated in the Olympic Games in 1956 and has consistently sent athletes to compete in the Summer Olympic Games since then, except for the 1976, 1984, and 1988 Games. Additionally, Ethiopia participated in the Winter Olympic Games for the first time at the 2006 Games in Turin.
In these outings, Ethiopian athletes have won a total of 58 medals (23 gold, 12 silver, and 23 bronze), all of which were won at the Summer Olympics and all in long-distance events in athletics. They are also looking to add many more medals in the French capital starting from tonight.