Birhanu Legese Gurmesa (born 11 September 1994)
is an Ethiopian
long-distance runner
Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires endurance, stamina as well as mental strength.
Within e ...
. He won the
2019
File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...
and
2020 Tokyo Marathon
The 2020 Tokyo Marathon ( ja, 東京マラソン2020) was the fourteenth edition of the annual marathon race in Tokyo, and was held on Sunday, 1 March. A World Athletics Platinum Label Road Race, it was the first World Marathon Majors event he ...
and finished second at the
2019 Berlin Marathon.
Legese is currently part of the
NN Running Team
NN Running Team is a professional running team based in the Netherlands. It was founded in 2017 by Jos Hermens, the director of Global Sports Communication. The team's title sponsor is the Dutch insurance company NN Group. The running team include ...
, which is managed by
Global Sports Communication.
Career
Born and raised in
Woliso, around 100 km south west of
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa (; am, አዲስ አበባ, , new flower ; also known as , lit. "natural spring" in Oromo), is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It is also served as major administrative center of the Oromia Region. In the 2007 census, t ...
, Birhanu Legese started out as an talented sprinter, winning area
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been conteste ...
and
200 m titles.
In 2012, he ran
10 kilometres
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit (measurement), unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment ...
races, finishing second at the
Great Ethiopian Run
The Great Ethiopian Run ( am, ታላቁ ሩጫ በኢትዮጵያ) is an annual 10-kilometre road running event which takes place in late November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Overview
The competition was first envisioned by neighbors Ethiopian runn ...
and, in his international debut, winning the
Corrida de Houilles
The Corrida de Houilles, officially ''Corrida pédestre internationale de Houilles'' (Houilles International Footrace), is an annual 10K run that takes place at the end of December in Houilles, France.
The competition was created in 1972 by Alexa ...
in France.
In 2013, the then 18-year-old finished second in the 10 km in
Taroudant
Taroudant (; ar, تارودانت, Latn, ar, tārūdānt, ) is a city in the Sous Valley in south western Morocco. It is situated east of Agadir on the road to Ouarzazate and the Sahara desert and south of Marrakesh. The town is known as the "Gr ...
, Morocco with a time of 27:34, the third-fastest 10 km road time in the world for 2013.
In 2015, Legese claimed victory at the
Berlin Half Marathon
The Berlin Half Marathon is a major endurance event held annually in early spring in Berlin, Germany. Besides the runner's main race, the event includes a race for inline skaters, wheelchair athletes and handbikers. All athletes use the same co ...
(59:45) before winning
Delhi Half Marathon
Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) is an annual half marathon foot-race held in New Delhi, India. Established in 2005, it is both an elite runner and mass participation event. It is an AIMS-certified course and is listed as a Gold Label Road Rac ...
in a time of 59:20, the joint third-fastest time in the world that year.
Further half marathon victories followed at the
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
History
The first event, in 2007, saw Samuel Wanjiru breaking the world record, but Wanjiru himself set a new world record only a month later in ...
in the United Arab Emirates in 2016 (1:00:40) and New Delhi once again in 2017 (59:46).
In January 2018, Legese made his
marathon
The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...
debut at the
Dubai Marathon
The Dubai Marathon is an annual road-based marathon hosted by Dubai, United Arab Emirates, since 1998. The marathon is categorized as a Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics.
History
Initial era
The inaugural Dubai Marathon was held ...
, finishing sixth with a time of 2:04:15.
In March 2019, the 24-year-old claimed his biggest victory up to that point by winning his first
World Marathon Major
The World Marathon Majors (WMM) (known for sponsorship reasons as the Abbott World Marathon Majors) is a championship-style competition for marathon runners that started in 2006. A points-based competition founded on six major marathon races reco ...
at the
Tokyo Marathon
The is an annual marathon sporting event in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. It is a World Athletics Platinum Label marathon and one of the six World Marathon Majors. The latest edition of the race took place on . It is sponsored by Tokyo Metro.
H ...
by a two-minute margin, clocking 2:04:48 despite cold and rainy conditions. In September that year, Legese finished second at the
Berlin Marathon
The Berlin Marathon (german: Berlin-Marathon, ) is a marathon event held annually on the streets of Berlin, Germany on the last weekend of September. Held annually since 1974, the event includes multiple races over the marathon distance of , inclu ...
with a time of 2:02:48 to move to third on the world all-time list behind only
Eliud Kipchoge
Eliud Kipchoge ( ; born 5 November 1984) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon and formerly specialized at the 5000 metre distance. Widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, he is the 2016 and 2020 ...
and
Kenenisa Bekele
Kenenisa Bekele ( om, Qananiisaa baqqalaa; am, ቀነኒሳ በቀለ; born 13 June 1982) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. He was the world record holder in both the 5000-metre and 10000-metre from 2004 (5,000m) and 2005 (10,000m) unti ...
.
He successfully defended his title at the
2020 Tokyo Marathon
The 2020 Tokyo Marathon ( ja, 東京マラソン2020) was the fourteenth edition of the annual marathon race in Tokyo, and was held on Sunday, 1 March. A World Athletics Platinum Label Road Race, it was the first World Marathon Majors event he ...
by winning the race with a time of 2:04:15. He ran 2:03:16 for third at the
Valencia Marathon
The Valencia Marathon (also known as Marathon Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP for sponsorship reasons) is an annual marathon road running event hosted by Valencia, Spain since 1981. It is categorized as a Platinum Label Road Race by World Athletic ...
in December that year.
Legese placed fifth at the
2021 London Marathon
The 2021 London Marathon was the 41st running of the annual London Marathon on 3 October 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was postponed from April until October to maximise the chances of a mass participation event.
The elite even ...
, and sixth at the
2022 London Marathon
The 2022 London Marathon was the 42nd running of the annual London Marathon on 2 October 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the race was postponed from April until October to maximise the chances of a mass participation event. The elite men's a ...
.
Marathon performances
* 2018
Dubai Marathon
The Dubai Marathon is an annual road-based marathon hosted by Dubai, United Arab Emirates, since 1998. The marathon is categorized as a Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics.
History
Initial era
The inaugural Dubai Marathon was held ...
– 2:04:15 (6th)
*
2018 Chicago Marathon – 2:08:41 (10th)
*
2019 Tokyo Marathon
The 2019 Tokyo Marathon ( ja, 東京マラソン 2019) was the thirteenth edition of the annual marathon race in Tokyo and was held on Sunday, 3 March. An IAAF Gold Label Road Race, it was the first World Marathon Majors event to be held that yea ...
– 2:04:48 (1st)
*
2019 Berlin Marathon – 2:02:48 (2nd)
*
2020 Tokyo Marathon
The 2020 Tokyo Marathon ( ja, 東京マラソン2020) was the fourteenth edition of the annual marathon race in Tokyo, and was held on Sunday, 1 March. A World Athletics Platinum Label Road Race, it was the first World Marathon Majors event he ...
– 2:04:15 (1st)
* 2020
Valencia Marathon
The Valencia Marathon (also known as Marathon Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP for sponsorship reasons) is an annual marathon road running event hosted by Valencia, Spain since 1981. It is categorized as a Platinum Label Road Race by World Athletic ...
– 2:03.16 (3rd)
*
2021 London Marathon
The 2021 London Marathon was the 41st running of the annual London Marathon on 3 October 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was postponed from April until October to maximise the chances of a mass participation event.
The elite even ...
– 2:06.10 (5th)
*
2022 London Marathon
The 2022 London Marathon was the 42nd running of the annual London Marathon on 2 October 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the race was postponed from April until October to maximise the chances of a mass participation event. The elite men's a ...
– 2:06.11 (6th)
Personal bests
Birhanu Legese's personal bests are:
References
External links
*
Birhanu Legese profile(
NN Running Team
NN Running Team is a professional running team based in the Netherlands. It was founded in 2017 by Jos Hermens, the director of Global Sports Communication. The team's title sponsor is the Dutch insurance company NN Group. The running team include ...
)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legese, Birhanu
Living people
Ethiopian male long-distance runners
1994 births
Sportspeople from Oromia Region
21st-century Ethiopian people