14 Facts About Gelete Burka

Gelete Burka Bati is an Ethiopian middle-distance and long-distance runner.

Gelete Burka was born in Kofele in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region, the same district as double Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie.

Gelete Burka is a four-time participant at the World Championships in Athletics and represented Ethiopia at the Olympics in both 2008 and 2012.

Gelete Burka has medalled on the regional stage, having been the runner-up at the 2010 African Championships in Athletics and the gold medallist at the 2007 All-Africa Games.

Gelete Burka made her first impact in senior athletics later that year when, following the Ethiopian federation's refusal to allow Merima Denboba to compete, Burka took the women's race at the Lotto Cross Cup Brussels.

Gelete Burka returned to Belgium the following year and repeated the feat.

Gelete Burka closed the season with a win at the Spanish Cross Internacional de Venta de Banos.

Gelete Burka established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the cross country circuit, winning the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country three times consecutively from 2006 to 2008 and taking the Cross Internacional de Italica title in 2007.

Gelete Burka was sixth at the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

Gelete Burka was a finalist at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, but finished last in tenth place.

Gelete Burka claimed the silver medal behind reigning Olympic champion Nancy Langat at the 2010 African Championships in Athletics in the outdoor season.

Gelete Burka came second to a returning Tirunesh Dibaba at the 2011 San Silvestre Vallecana 10K race.

Gelete Burka made her debut over the 15K road distance at the Zevenheuvelenloop, placing fifth, then ended the year with at the San Silvestre Vallecana with an Ethiopian record of 30:53 minutes for the 10K road distance.

Gelete Burka began 2013 with a win at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza.