The Selemon Barega olympics record is short but decisive: one gold and one final placing. On 30 July 2021, at the Tokyo 2020 Games, he won the 10,000m in 27:43.22. Three years later, on 2 August 2024 in Paris, he ran almost a minute faster, 26:44.48, and finished 6th in the same event.
Both races were 10,000m finals, and his World Athletics profile shows no other Olympic starts as of 22 October 2026. Here is how he arrived at each Games, what the results mean and where his Olympic path may lead after his switch to the marathon. His full biography is on the main Selemon Barega page.
Selemon Barega olympics results at a glance
| Games | Date | Event | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) | 30 Jul 2021 | 10,000m final | 1st (gold) | 27:43.22 |
| Paris 2024 | 2 Aug 2024 | 10,000m final | 6th | 26:44.48 |
Before Tokyo: a 5000m star moving up in distance
Until 2019 Selemon Barega was known mainly as a 5000m runner. He had won the world U20 title in 2016, set the world U20 record of 12:43.02 in Brussels on 31 August 2018 (still the record as of 22 October 2026) and taken world championship silver over 5000m in Doha on 30 September 2019 in 12:59.70.
The step up to 10,000m began at home. On 7 May 2019 he won the Ethiopian Championships over 10,000m in Addis Ababa in a hand-timed 28:23.7. Speed work remained part of his preparation: on 17 February 2021 he ran 3:32.97 for 1500m indoors in Toruń, a short-track best that still stands as of 22 October 2026. When the postponed Tokyo Games arrived in summer 2021, he was entered over 10,000m.
Tokyo 2020: 10,000m gold on 30 July 2021
The final
The men’s 10,000m final in Tokyo was held on 30 July 2021. Selemon Barega won in 27:43.22 and became Olympic champion, aged 21 at the time. The winning time is far from his best: in championship finals runners race for medals rather than for the clock, and there are no pacemakers as in Diamond League races.
What the gold meant for his career
Tokyo gave him his first senior global title after silver medals at the 2018 World Indoor Championships and the 2019 World Championships. It also confirmed that his future lay as much at 10,000m as at 5000m. Eight months later, on 20 March 2022, he added the world indoor 3000m title in Belgrade (7:41.38).
Between the Games: 2022–2024
The three seasons between Tokyo and Paris brought mixed championship results. At the 2022 World Championships in Eugene he was 5th in the 10,000m on 17 July (27:28.39) and 12th in the 5000m on 24 July. On 20 August 2023 he won 10,000m bronze at the World Championships in Budapest in 27:52.72, and on 2 March 2024 he took 3000m bronze at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
His form in the Olympic year looked strong. He won the Diamond League 5000m in Suzhou on 27 April 2024 in 12:55.68, and on 14 June 2024 in Nerja, Spain, he ran 26:34.93 for 10,000m, his personal best as of 22 October 2026.
Paris 2024: 6th in a fast 10,000m final
The Paris 10,000m final took place on 2 August 2024. Selemon Barega crossed the line 6th in 26:44.48, almost a minute faster than his winning time in Tokyo three years earlier. In a much quicker race he was unable to defend his title, although his time was within ten seconds of the 26:34.93 he had run in Nerja seven weeks earlier.
His World Athletics profile lists the 10,000m final as his only race at the Paris Games.
After Paris: towards Los Angeles 2028
Within seven months of Paris he had changed events. On 23 February 2025 he made his debut over 42.195 km in Seville and won in 2:05:15, then ran 2:05:00 in Tokyo on 1 March 2026 and 2:04:58 in Berlin on 27 September 2026. Those races are covered on the Selemon Barega marathon page.
As of 22 October 2026 Ethiopia has not named any team for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and nothing has been published about which event Selemon Barega would target there. He also kept a foot on the track: on 14 September 2025 he finished 6th in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Tokyo, and as of 22 October 2026 he is No. 4 in the World Athletics 10,000m ranking.
Where to watch the Olympics in Ethiopia
In 2024 Ethiopians watched the Paris Games on EBC, the state broadcaster. From the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar (31 October – 13 November 2026) to Brisbane 2032, free-to-air Olympic rights in 44 sub-Saharan countries belong to the agency MMS, which has not yet named an Ethiopian partner as of 22 October 2026. Selemon Barega’s non-Olympic championship races – World Athletics Series events – are shown free on Hagerie TV through 2029.
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.
More Ethiopian Olympic champions, including marathon gold medallist Tamirat Tola, are listed in our Ethiopian athletes hub.
Selemon Barega Olympics FAQ
Did Selemon Barega win Olympic gold?
Yes. He won the 10,000m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on 30 July 2021 in 27:43.22.
What happened to Selemon Barega in Paris 2024?
He finished 6th in the 10,000m final on 2 August 2024 in 26:44.48, faster than his winning time in Tokyo.
Did Selemon Barega run the 5000m at the Olympics?
His World Athletics profile shows only 10,000m finals at the Olympics, in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 (as of 22 October 2026).
Will Selemon Barega run the marathon at the 2028 Olympics?
Nothing has been announced as of 22 October 2026. He has run three marathons since February 2025, but Ethiopia’s team for Los Angeles 2028 has not been selected.