Haile Gebrselassie is a history-making distance runner from Ethiopia. Most people consider him the best distance runner of all time, as he holds an incredible four consecutive world titles, three world records, and two gold medals in the 10,000m. Last September, he set a new world record of 2:04:26 at the Berlin Marathon. That’s 26.2 miles in just two hours and four and a half minutes.
But Gebrselassie isn’t trying for his first gold medal in marathon at the 2008 Olympics. Because he has asthma, the 35 year-old withdrew from the event last spring over breathing worries in the face of Beijing’s air pollution.
Fun Fact
According to his coach, Gebreselassie runs with his left arm crooked as a result of a childhood spent running 10 km to and from school with books in that arm.
Charity Work
Helped raise $450,000+ for Vicky’s Water Project, which brings clean water to the dry Lera Town area in Ethiopia.
More
IOC Profile of Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie at NBC Olympics
**Part of a special, weeklong feature on asthmatic Olympians and the incredible athletic feats they accomplish despite their breathing problems.**
Some of the live shots from this weekend showed heavy smog. I don’t think I’d make it there just walking around much less doing anything athletic.
I can’t blame him for withdrawing.