Haile Gebrselassie Shocks Everyone And Retires From The Sport After 2010 ING NYC Marathon

By LetsRun.com
November 7, 2010

Editor's Note: This article recaps our quick recap of Haile Gebrselassie's shock retirement announcement. For more analysis on Gebrselassie's retirement and whether he may unretire click here.

In a totally unexpected development, Haile Gebrselassie just announced his retirement from the sport to a shocked audience at the ING New York City Marathon press conference. Geb dropped out of the race with a knee injury.

Gebrselassie came on the stage by himself to answer questions. He started out with his own statement on the race (video and full transcript of of announcement below:).

He said, "I'm a little bit disappointed, disappointed to myself."

"Whatever it is, I can not change. I am a little bit unhappy ... I don't want (to do this again). It's better to stop here."

Surely the great one was talking about the race and not his career.

He then said, "It didn't work. Next time, to complain again and again. It's bad for all you who support me (so I won't do it again)." His voice was full of emotion.

He added, "I did VERY HARD training. After this, I have (had) no discussion with my manager with anybody. I discuss(ed) with myself, that is better to stop here. I never think about to retire. But for the first time ever, this is the day."

He was then asked if he was retiring. He responded, "Yes."

People wanted to ask questions but it was clear Geb did not want to answer them and Richard Finn, the pr director of the NYRR, let him off the stage after Gebrselassie answered a couple. Geb hobbled off the stage and the stunned press corps followed him out the door but that was it.

Video Of Haile G's Retirement Announcement:

Updated Full Ttranscript: 5:43pm

ASAP Sports does a great job on the transcripts. All of them for the ING NYC Marathon can be found here. Here is the transcript for Gebreslassie:

HAILE GEBRSELASSIE: First of all, thank you to be here today. Well, I'm a little bit disappointed. Disappointed to myself. I knew this when I arrived here in New York. I told, you know, this is not that serious - I thought this was not that serious.
Okay, well, whatever it is, things happened I cannot change. One thing that I want to tell you today here in front of you I'll a little bit unhappy. When I announced this, maybe everybody becomes a little bit shocked. I myself I don't want to complain anymore after this, which means it's better to stop here.
I did really very hard training to win this race. It didn't work. Each time I don't come with - if it's a problem like this and to complain again and again, it's bad for my - all of you support me. Especially thank you to Mary. She bring me here to see New York, and that's why I did very hard training. After this, I know I have no discussion with my manager, with anybody, but I discuss with myself. That's why it's better to stop here.
I never think about to retire. But for the first time, this is the day. Let me stop and do other work after this. Let me do other job. Let me give a chance for the youngsters. Of course, I am giving a chance for the youngsters. Will I miss the race? It's hard to me, hard because, you know, I want to thank all of you.

Q. Haile, you're not running anymore, you're retiring right now?
HAILE GEBRSELASSIE: Yes.

Q. Is it just that you feel your body can't take it at this high level anymore? What do you think it is?
HAILE GEBRSELASSIE: You know, how many times I complain? Before I came in this competition, I had really very hard training. Better to stop here.

Q. Did you have any idea coming into this race, and if you had gotten through it fine, would you still be making the same decision or is this just because of what happened out there today in the 16th mile?
HAILE GEBRSELASSIE: No, no, no, no. I knew this problem. I mean what happened yesterday when the doctor came to me to bring me to an MRI. They said there is a kind of fluid inside. Why this happen. Thank you.

Q. Did you start feeling bad on the flight? Is that what happened? Were you in a bad position?
HAILE GEBRSELASSIE: No complaints, really. It's better not to complain anymore.

For more analysis on Gebrselassie's retirement and whether he may change his mind  click here.

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