Kenenisa Bekele is a track and field athlete who has competed for Ethiopia. He competed at the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2024 Summer Olympic Games. He was widely regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners in Olympic history, winning a total of four medals: three golds and a silver.
Bekele started his Olympic trip at Athens 2004 as a current world record holder and potential medal favorite for the long-distance double. In the final round of the 10,000 metres, he unleashed a tactical speed and a powerful kick over the field in the final laps to secure a gold with a new Olympic record (27:05.10). He aimed at striking a double triumph in the long-distance running, but he trailed the winner Hicham El Guerrouj by two tenths of a second, settling for a silver in thrilling sprint finish (13:14.59).
Four years later in Beijing, Bekele returned to dip under his Olympic record with a time of 27:01.17 for his title defense in the 10,000 metres. Nearly a week later, he outpaced his rivals with a powerful last lap to capture a gold in the 5000 metres, completing a historic long-distance double (5000 and 10,000). He also smashed a new Olympic record (12:57.82) to clear the thirteen-minute barrier and shave almost eight seconds off the mark set by Saïd Aouita at Los Angeles 1984. With such feat, Bekele became the second Ethiopian runner and sixth overall to strike a long-distance double at the Games, following Hannes Kolehmainen, Emil Zátopek, Vladimir Kuts, Lasse Viren, and Miruts Yifter.
London 2012 presented a different challenge for Bekele as he struggled to reach his peak from two previous editions with multiple injuries. He was only selected to run for the Ethiopians in the 10,000 metres race but slipped off the podium to fourth.
After the Games, Bekele transitioned from the long-distance track to marathon running. Twelve years later, he returned to the Olympic scene at Paris 2024, finishing thirty-ninth in the men's marathon race with a time of 2:12:24.
He is the older brother of long-distance runner and London 2012 bronze medalist Tariku Bekele.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Men's 5000m | 
|
| Men's 10000m | 
| |
| 2008 | Men's 5000m |
|
| Men's 10000m |
| |
| 2012 | Men's 10000m | 4th |
| 2024 | Men's marathon | 39th |
2004[]
| Discipline | Stage | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 metres | Heats | 13:21.16 | |
| Final | 13:14.59 | ||
| 10000 metres | Final | 27:05.10 | OR |
2008[]
| Discipline | Stage | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 metres | Heats | 13:40.13 | |
| Final | 12:57.82 | OR | |
| 10000 metres | Final | 27:01.17 | OR |
2012[]
| Discipline | Stage | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10000 metres | Final | 27:32.44 |
2024[]
| Discipline | Stage | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon | Final | 2:12:24 |