Ethiopian athletes have been part of the story of distance running since Abebe Bikila won the Olympic marathon in Rome in 1960 – Ethiopia's first Olympic gold medal. In 2026 the country's runners hold world records, Olympic titles and wins in the biggest city marathons, and many of them still live and train on the highlands around Addis Ababa, more than 2,000 metres above sea level.
This section follows ten Ethiopian athletes who shape world athletics as of 22 October 2026: four women and six men, from 1500m specialists to marathon winners. For each of them we have a full profile with dates, results and records taken from World Athletics, plus a calendar of the next big races and the official ways to watch them from Ethiopia.
Ten Ethiopian athletes to follow
Gudaf Tsegay, born on 23 January 1997 and from Tigray, has won world titles at the 1500m indoors (2022, 2025), the 5000m (2022) and the 10,000m (2023), plus Olympic 5000m bronze in Tokyo in 2021. Her indoor 1500m world record of 3:53.09 from Liévin, set on 9 February 2021, still stood as of 22 October 2026. She did not race in 2026; a four-month AIU ineligibility period ended on 30 September 2026.
Tigst Assefa started as a 400m and 800m runner and ran the 800m at the 2016 Olympics. On the roads she has won five World Marathon Majors – Berlin in 2022, 2023 and 2026 and London in 2025 and 2026 – and holds the women-only marathon world record of 2:15:41 (London, 26 April 2026). She ruptured an Achilles tendon while winning Berlin on 27 September 2026 and had surgery the next day.
Tamirat Tola, born on 11 August 1991, won the Olympic marathon in Paris on 10 August 2024 in an Olympic record of 2:06:26, two years after becoming world champion in Eugene. His 2026 season brought his fastest times: wins in Doha (16 January) and Beijing (18 October, 2:03:10), both in course records, and a personal best of 2:02:59 for fifth place in London.
Selemon Barega was world U20 champion over 5000m at 16 and, on 31 August 2018, ran 12:43.02 in Brussels – a world U20 record that still stood as of 22 October 2026. His biggest win came at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, gold over 10,000m. Since 2025 he has moved to the marathon, winning his debut in Seville and running 2:04:58 in Berlin on 27 September 2026.
Yomif Kejelcha won world indoor titles over 3000m in 2016 and 2018 and later turned to the roads, where his 26:31 for 10 km (Castellón, 16 February 2025) was the world record as of 22 October 2026. On his marathon debut in London on 26 April 2026 he ran 1:59:41 for second place. His 56:51 half marathon in Buenos Aires on 23 August 2026 is awaiting ratification, and organisers have confirmed him for Valencia on 6 December 2026.
Berihu Aregawi, from Atsbi Wenberta in Tigray, won Olympic silver over 10,000m in Paris in 2024 and Diamond League trophies in 2021 and 2024. His 12:49 for 5 km on the road, run in Barcelona on 31 December 2021, was still the world record as of 22 October 2026. On 10 January 2026 he took his third straight world cross country silver in Tallahassee.
Hagos Gebrhiwet won world 5000m silver in Moscow in 2013 at the age of 19 and Olympic bronze in Rio in 2016. On 30 May 2024 in Oslo he ran 12:36.73, the Ethiopian record. In 2023 he became world champion over 5 km on the road in Riga, and in 2026 he moved up: a half-marathon win in Barcelona and a marathon debut in Sydney on 30 August.
Freweyni Hailu, born on 12 February 2001 in Tigray, is a two-time world indoor champion – over 1500m in Glasgow in 2024 and over 3000m in Nanjing in 2025. Her 2026 season was the best of her career: the Diamond League 5000m title in Brussels on 4 September 2026, two fourth places at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest and road mile silver in Copenhagen.
Fotyen Tesfay ran the 10,000m at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and then made the fastest women's marathon debut on record: 2:10:51 in Barcelona on 15 March 2026, which is also the Ethiopian record. She won the Buenos Aires Half Marathon on 23 August 2026 and, as of 22 October 2026, is confirmed by organisers for the Valencia Marathon on 6 December.
Guye Adola, born on 20 October 1990, ran 2:03:46 on his marathon debut in Berlin in 2017, finishing second behind Eliud Kipchoge. He won Berlin in 2021 ahead of Kenenisa Bekele, and in 2026 enjoyed his best season: victory in Rotterdam on 12 April and a second Berlin title on 27 September in a personal best of 2:02:50. As of 22 October 2026 his next race had not been announced.
Big races to watch (as of 22 October 2026)
The table lists the main road, cross country and track events between November 2026 and June 2027. A race on this list does not mean any particular athlete has entered it; confirmed entries are noted on each athlete's page.
| Date | Event | City | Type | Date status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 2026 | New York City Marathon | New York | Marathon | Confirmed by organisers |
| 22 Nov 2026 | Great Ethiopian Run 10K | Addis Ababa | Road 10 km | Confirmed by organisers |
| 6 Dec 2026 | Valencia Marathon | Valencia | Marathon | Confirmed by organisers |
| 17 Jan 2027 | Dubai Marathon | Dubai | Marathon | Confirmed by organisers |
| Jan–Feb 2027 | Jan Meda cross country / Ethiopian championships | Addis Ababa area | Cross country | Not announced |
| 27 Jan 2027 | World Indoor Tour Gold | Belgrade | Indoor track | Confirmed by organisers |
| 7 Mar 2027 | Tokyo Marathon | Tokyo | Marathon | Confirmed by organisers |
| 27 Mar 2027 | World Road Running Championships | Yangzhou | Road championship | Reported by media |
| 19 Apr 2027 | Boston Marathon | Boston | Marathon | Reported by media |
| 24–25 Apr 2027 | London Marathon | London | Marathon | Confirmed; elite race day not announced |
| 7 May 2027 | Diamond League opener | Doha | Track | Confirmed by organisers |
| 30 May 2027 | Diamond League | Rabat | Track | Confirmed by organisers |
Some sources give 28 March 2027 for the World Road Running Championships. There is no World Indoor Championships and no World Cross Country Championships in 2027; the next World Athletics Championships take place in Beijing in September 2027. The full schedule is on the World Athletics calendar.
Where to watch athletics in Ethiopia
Since May 2026 the free-to-air channel Hagerie TV holds the Ethiopian rights to all World Athletics Series events through 2029, including the World Championships in Beijing in 2027 and the World Road Running Championships. Diamond League meetings and the big city marathons (London, Boston, Berlin, New York) have been shown on SuperSport, a pay-TV service. EBC carried the Paris 2024 Olympics, and the Dubai Marathon was streamed free worldwide on its official channel in 2026. The Ethiopian broadcaster for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics had not been announced as of 22 October 2026.
Official rights holders only, checked 22 October 2026. Rights change by event and season – check the broadcaster’s schedule before a race. We do not link to unofficial streams.
We list only official broadcasters and do not link to unofficial streams.
Ethiopian athletes FAQ
Which Ethiopian athletes hold world records?
Among the ten athletes in this section, as of 22 October 2026: Gudaf Tsegay (indoor 1500m, 3:53.09), Tigst Assefa (women-only marathon, 2:15:41), Yomif Kejelcha (10 km road, 26:31) and Berihu Aregawi (5 km road, 12:49). Selemon Barega holds the world U20 record over 5000m.
Who won Olympic gold for Ethiopia in Paris 2024?
Among the athletes in this section, Tamirat Tola won the men's marathon in Paris on 10 August 2024 in an Olympic record of 2:06:26.
Which Ethiopian runners are entered in the Valencia Marathon 2026?
As of 22 October 2026 the organisers have confirmed Yomif Kejelcha and Fotyen Tesfay for the race on 6 December 2026.
When is the Great Ethiopian Run 2026?
On 22 November 2026 in Addis Ababa, with children's races on 21 November.
Where can I watch athletics in Ethiopia?
World Athletics Series events are on Hagerie TV (free-to-air) through 2029; Diamond League meetings and major marathons have been on SuperSport (pay TV).