Is Gotytom Gebreslase related to Haile Gebreslase? The response is a resounding No. Despite sharing the same surname, Gotytom Gebreslase and Haile Gebreslase are not related. Gotytom Gebreslase is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. She won the gold medal in the marathon at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
Gotytom Gebreslase biography
Gotytom Gebreslase is a renowned Ethiopian long-distance runner who has achieved numerous accolades throughout her career. She emerged victorious in the women’s race at the Berlin Marathon in Germany during her marathon debut in 2021.
Gebreslase also secured a third-place finish in the delayed 2021 Tokyo Marathon, clocking in at 2:18:18. In addition, she clinched the bronze medal at the 2022 New York City Marathon. Gebreslase’s impressive track record dates back to her early years as an athlete.
At the age of 16, she won the gold medal in the girls’ 3000 metres at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics held in Lille Métropole, France.
The following year, she earned the bronze medal in the women’s 5000 meters event at the 2012 African Championships in Athletics in Porto-Novo, Benin. In 2013, Gebreslase competed in the junior women’s race at the World Cross Country Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland. In 2015, Gebreslase finished in fourth place in the women’s 5000 metres at the African Games in Brazzaville, Congo.
Her most recent achievement was winning the gold medal in the marathon at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. Gebreslase’s dedication and hard work have made her a force to be reckoned with in the world of long-distance running.
Who is Haile Gebreslase
Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian former long-distance track, and road running athlete, and businessman. He won two Olympic gold medals and four World Championship titles over the 10,000 metres.
Haile was born in Asella, Ethiopia, as one of ten siblings. Growing up on a farm, he developed a unique running posture due to his daily ten-kilometre run to and from school, with his left arm crooked as if still holding his school books. In 1992, Haile gained international recognition by winning the 5000-metre and 10,000-metre races at the World Junior Championships in Seoul, South Korea, and a silver medal in the junior race at the World Cross Country Championships in Boston, USA.
The following year, Haile won the first of his four consecutive world championships titles in the men’s 10,000 metres at the 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1999 World Championships. His win in 1993 was notable for accidentally stepping on the heel of Moses Tanui’s shoe, causing it to fly off his foot. Despite Tanui’s initial lead, Haile managed to run him down on the final straight. Haile also finished second in the 5,000-metre race at the 1993 World Championships.
Haile’s achievements extended beyond track and field, with major wins at distances ranging from 1500 metres to the marathon. He set 27 world records and broke 61 Ethiopian national records, earning him a place among the greatest distance runners in history. In 2008, he won the Berlin Marathon with a world record time of 2:03:59, breaking his own record by 27 seconds. His 10,000 m Masters age group world record remains unchallenged since 2008.
Haile’s influence extends beyond athletics, as he was named one of the top 100 most influential Africans by New African in 2011. However, his hotels and resort were burned during the Hachalu Hundessa riots in 2020, resulting in 400 employees losing their jobs. In 2021, he pledged to join the fighting against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front amidst the ongoing Tigray War.
Is Gotytom Gebreslase related to Haile Gebreslase?
So the big question is, are these two greats related? The answer is an empathic NO. Despite their identical surnames, Gotytom Gebreslase and Haile Gebreslase are not related.
