17 Facts About Tsegaye Kebede

Tsegaye Kebede Wordofa is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in road running events, including marathons.

Tsegaye Kebede quickly rose to become a prominent distance runner after his international debut at the Amsterdam Marathon in 2007.

Tsegaye Kebede retained his Fukuoka Marathon title at the end of 2009, running the fastest ever marathon race in Japan.

Tsegaye Kebede was brought up as part of a large family, the fifth child of thirteen, and his early years were marked by poverty.

Tsegaye Kebede received his primary education at jima senbate school in Sendafa town.

Tsegaye Kebede began running for pleasure as an 8-year-old and, after competing at a half marathon in Addis Ababa in 2006, an athletics coach offered him the chance to train with his group.

Tsegaye Kebede won the Abebe Bikila International Marathon a few months later, effectively resolving the visa problems he had encountered while trying to race overseas.

Tsegaye Kebede took second place behind Patrick Makau Musyoki at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon with a time of 59:35, a personal best.

Tsegaye Kebede finished third in the World 10K Bangalore race the following month, setting a best of 28:10 over the distance.

Tsegaye Kebede remained in strong form the following year: he set a new personal best of 2:05:20 at the 2009 London Marathon, taking second place behind Wanjiru.

Tsegaye Kebede improved his best further at the end of that year, winning the Fukuoka International Marathon for a second time.

Tsegaye Kebede finished the race in 2:05:18, a new course record and again setting the fastest time ever recorded for the marathon in Japan.

The pacemakers were not quick through the early stages and Tsegaye Kebede had enough energy to sprint for the line, but his time of 2:05:19 was nine seconds short of the record and a second away from Tsegaye Kebede's best.

Tsegaye Kebede closely followed the pacemakers and repeatedly surged ahead of the field.

Tsegaye Kebede was not chosen for the Ethiopian 2012 London Olympics marathon team despite the pleas of Haile Gebrselassie to their country's selection committee.

Tsegaye Kebede entered the 2012 Chicago Marathon and went one better than his 2010 performance to win the race.

Tsegaye Kebede gradually pulled ahead of the pack in the second half of the race and managed a course record time of 2:04:38, a personal best.