But now the focus is on Kenenissa Bekele who won four consecutive world cross-country championships, and who also smashed Hiale Gebreselassie's world record for 5,000 and 10,000 meters in nine days prior to going to the Athens Olympics. His latest victory took place in France – his fourth consecutive IAAF World Cross Country Championships short race title on St-Galmier Hippodrome on 19 March 2005. And in Athens in 2004, Bekele replaced Haile Gebreselassie as an untouchable gold medallist in the 10,000m-competition staging a breathtaking performance. He produced a tick less than 53 seconds in the final lap crossing the finish line in 27 minutes 5.10 seconds again breaking Gebreselassie's Olympic record.

Kenenissa Bekele was born on 13 th June 1982. At the age of 22 he is a world-class athlete following in the footsteps of his Ethiopian predecessors. His 2004 prize money earnings amount to USD 162,922, which makes him one of the richest athletes in the world. And he is only starting.