Letesenbet Gidey has shouldered the burden of Ethiopia’s gold medal ambitions in the women’s 10,000 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
The 19th World Athletics Championships kicked off today in Budapest, Hungary with over 2,000 athletes from 200 nations competing across nine days of competition. Ethiopia will be represented by 35 athletes across various distances.
Letesenbet, Gudaf Tsegai, Ejegayehu Taye, and Lemlem Hailu will all represent Ethiopia early in the competition in the women’s 10,000 meters. Ethiopia is targeting at least one medal in the long distances, with high hopes in the women’s 10K.
Letesenbet, the defending 10,000m champion from last year’s Worlds in Oregon, stated she has prepared diligently for this race. It’s expected that Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and Ethiopia’s quartet will battle intensely in the women’s 10,000m final.
As Letesenbet told The Reporter, “I was able to achieve the world championship in the last year, which I regretted not capturing in the Olympics. I feel I have more potential for this championship. I believe we will achieve a medal, whether gold, silver or bronze.”
On the men’s side, Berihu Aregawi, Solomon Barega, and Yismaw Dilu will carry Ethiopia’s hopes in the 10,000m. That final is scheduled for tomorrow evening.
