Excellence in athletics is among the top few subject matters Ethiopia is known for around the world. The reputation started to build up back in the days of Abebe Bikilla – who stunned the world by winning the Olympic marathon setting a world record of 2:15:16.2 while running barefoot in Rome in 1960. Yes running barefoot and it was the first ever marathon Gold Medal for Africa.

And he became the first athlete in the world to win back-to-back Olympic marathon titles when he entered the finish line in 2 hours, 12 minutes and 11.2 seconds at the subsequent Olympics in Tokyo in 1964. Since then, Ethiopia has produced countless hoers and heroines such as Mamo Wolde, Miruts Yifter, Abebe Mekonen, Belayneh Densamo, Derartu Tulu, Haile Gebreselassie, Fatuma Roba, Gezahgne Abera and Kenenissa Bekele. Haile Gebreselassie alone has set 17 indoor and outdoor world records, won two Olympic 10,000m Gold Medals and claimed another four World 10,000m titles by 2004.

Wherever in the world Ethiopians set foot, they are recognised as compatriots of Abebe Bikilla and Haile Gebreselassie. These are the medals Ethiopia has won so far.

 
 Olympic Year  Athlete  Race Event  Medal Won  Finish Time
         
 Beijing 2008 Tirunesh Dibaba 10,000 m Gold 29:54.66
Kenenisa Bekele 10,000 m Gold 27:01.17 OR
Sileshi Sihine 10,000 m Silver 27:02.77
Tirunesh Dibaba 5,000 m Gold 15:41.40
Meseret Defar 5,000 m Bronze 15:44.12
Kenenisa Bekele 5,000 m Gold 12:57.82
Tsegaye Kebede Marathon Bronze 2:10.0s0
Ethiopia finished the Games ranking 18th in the world
       
 Athens 2004 Kenenisa Bekele 10,000 m Gold 27:05.10
Meseret Defar 5,000 m Gold 14:45.65
Kenenisa Bekele 5,000 m Silver 13:14.19
Sileshi Sihine 10,000 m Silver 27:09.39
Ejagayehu Dibaba 10,000 m Silver 30:24.98
Tirunesh Dibaba 5,000 m Bronze 14:51.83
Derartu Tulu 10,000 m Bronze 30:26.42
 Ethiopia finished the Games ranking 5th in the world
 
 Sydney 2000 Million Wolde 5,000 m Gold 13:35.49
Haile Gebrselassie 10,000 m Gold 27:18.20
Gezahgne Abera Marathon Gold 2:10.11
Derartu Tulu 10,000 m Gold 30:17.49 OR
Gete Wami 10,000 m Silver 30:22.48
Assefa Mezgebu 10,000 m Bronze 27:19.75
Tesfaye Tola Marathon Bronze 2:11.10
Gete Wami 5,000 m Bronze 14:42.23
 Ethiopia finished the Games ranking 2nd in the world
 
Atlanta 1996 Haile Gebrselassie 10,000 m Gold 27:07.34 OR
Fatuma Roba Marathon Gold 2:26.05
Gete Wami 10,000 m Bronze 31:06.65
 Ethiopia finished the Games ranking 5th in the world
 
Barcelona 1992 Derartu Tulu 10,000 m Gold 31:06.02
Fita Bayisa 5,000 m Bronze 13:13.03
Addis Abebe 10,000 m Bronze 28:00.07
Ethiopia finished the Games ranking 12th in the world
 
Moscow 1980 Miruts Yifter 5,000 m Gold 13:20.91
Miruts Yifter 10,000 m Gold 27:42.69
Mohamed Kedir 10,000 m Bronze 27:44.64
Eshetu Tura 3,000 m steeplechase Bronze 8:13.57
  Ethiopia finished the Games ranking 6th in the world
 
Munich 1972 Miruts Yifter 10,000 m Bronze 27:40.96
Mamo Wolde Marathon Bronze 2:15.08.4
Ethiopia finished the Games ranking 17th in the world
 
Mexico City 1968 Mamo Wolde Marathon Gold 2:20.27
Mamo Wolde 10,000 m Gold 29:27.75
Ethiopia finished the Games ranking 10th in the world
 
Tokyo 1964 Abebe Bikila Marathon Gold 2:12.11.2 OR
Ethiopia finished the Games ranking 10th in the world
 
Rome 1960 Abebe Bikila Marathon Gold 2:15.16.2 OR
Ethiopia finished the Games ranking 10th in the world
 
Total medals won at the Olympics: 38
 19 Gold 5 Silver 14 Bronze
 
SOURCE: International Olympic Committee
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