From what I've heard, Bekele grew up in a rich family, which would make his age highly reliable. Has anyone else heard this?
Kenenisa Bekele is the second of six children - two girls and four boys. He is the son of a poor barley farmer and his wife and was born near the village of Bekoji in Arsi. The famine that devastated Ethiopia soon after his birth bypassed Bekoji, which had enough food. Bekele learnt about the huge death toll years later, when he was at school.
At 23, Kenenisa Bekele is already a world and Olympic champion, and in August he broke his own 10,000m world record. But only months before, the Ethiopian's life was shattered after his fiancee died when they were on a traini...
Seriously, he’s over forty and just ran a sub 2:06 marathon. Bekele should NEVER be used as an example of what not to do. He had years of success. And guess what, Yesterday was a success as well. JFC
I would guess Bekele will run one more huge marathon time and get a couple more major wins before he retires. This result was pretty good. He actually has had a very consistent career. Every marathon that he has finished has been a good result, with a couple great ones.
Seriously, he’s over forty and just ran a sub 2:06 marathon. Bekele should NEVER be used as an example of what not to do. He had years of success. And guess what, Yesterday was a success as well. JFC
Agree. The guy's career is just mindboggling. There are only 3 or 4 (maybe 5?) people out of billions, that are even in the conversation, when it comes to trying to debate who had the best career in long distance running.
And now he's setting age group world records. Definitely one of the best (if not the best) ever. ("But but he did this one tiny little thing wrong!") Lol
From what I've heard, Bekele grew up in a rich family, which would make his age highly reliable. Has anyone else heard this?
Kenenisa Bekele is the second of six children - two girls and four boys. He is the son of a poor barley farmer and his wife and was born near the village of Bekoji in Arsi. The famine that devastated Ethiopia soon after his birth bypassed Bekoji, which had enough food. Bekele learnt about the huge death toll years later, when he was at school.
Ok this is not Bekele-related but, one of the more interesting things I noticed in this article is the blurb about Geb at the end: "In 1997 he raced Noureddine Morceli over two miles, with one million dollars going to the winner if they achieved a time of under eight minutes. Gebrselassie won the race, but missed out on the money by just over a second."
Morceli doesn't have a two-mile result on worldathletics, but Geb does have an 8:01 in May 1997 in Hengelo. Then in July, Daniel Komen dropped his 7:58. So did Komen earn the million dollars himself? I would appreciate if anyone has any more info about this whole series of events!
If Rupp went to London and ran 2:05:53, would we all be pissing ourselves with glee? Black page?
Perspective is important here.
Also, the talk about how old Geb/Kipchoge etc "really" are gets so effing tiring. Like, in Africa there is no such thing as accurate birth records? Why shouldn't Kipchoge have been 18 when he won WC 5000m? Does anyone ever question Jacob's age? Of course not!! When he did amazing things at 17-18, he was white!!! (Still is, I think.)
I would guess Bekele will run one more huge marathon time and get a couple more major wins before he retires. This result was pretty good. He actually has had a very consistent career. Every marathon that he has finished has been a good result, with a couple great ones.
KB is not winning another WMM, if that whole thing even continues on....could he run better than he just ran? Yea I think so, but I don't know what his issue was this time, didn't really follow the race. Injured again? Just out of shape? Really just age?
Mark my words _ at this rate, Kenenisa bekele will NEVER win a WMM. World masters or not, I'd consider bekele a serious marathoner if he wins another or any other WMM. Apart from that, world masters means nothing!!!
Mark my words _ at this rate, Kenenisa bekele will NEVER win a WMM. World masters or not, I'd consider bekele a serious marathoner if he wins another or any other WMM. Apart from that, world masters means nothing!!!
So by your logic there are only 6 serious marathoners in the world for men and women. How moronic!
If Rupp went to London and ran 2:05:53, would we all be pissing ourselves with glee? Black page?
Perspective is important here.
Also, the talk about how old Geb/Kipchoge etc "really" are gets so effing tiring. Like, in Africa there is no such thing as accurate birth records? Why shouldn't Kipchoge have been 18 when he won WC 5000m? Does anyone ever question Jacob's age? Of course not!! When he did amazing things at 17-18, he was white!!! (Still is, I think.)
A two second google shows that Ethiopia has low birth registration rates - in fact, the lowest in Africa which seems to have low birth registration rates through
Birth registration refers to the permanent and official recording of a child's existence by a country’s administration or government. In many economies in Sub Saharan Africa, as well as some countries in South Asia, birth reg...
I would guess Bekele will run one more huge marathon time and get a couple more major wins before he retires. This result was pretty good. He actually has had a very consistent career. Every marathon that he has finished has been a good result, with a couple great ones.
KB is not winning another WMM, if that whole thing even continues on....could he run better than he just ran? Yea I think so, but I don't know what his issue was this time, didn't really follow the race. Injured again? Just out of shape? Really just age?
London 2017 bekele ran 2:05:57. 2019 Berlin he runs 2:01
Prediction: bekele runs 2:01 Berlin 2024 and sends Letsrun home DEVASTATED!
Bekele would of easily won London if he had a decent buildup and didn't get sick, yet he still easily got the masters WR. He is 10+ years older than all these guys and only 74 seconds behind the winner. He can still get the WR of low 2:01 with good preparation. If every elite runner had to only do the same identical training as Bekele has done over the last 10 years than nobody else in the world would run a 2:05, and I mean nobody.
Let's be honest, Kiochoge's 2:01:09 is the true over-40s world record
lol....quite likely true. What would be more impressive and astonishing though...his world championship 5000 at age 18 (if that was his true age??) OR, if his age is not accurate (which is quite possible, considering Kenyan culture does not do a great job of tracking actual birthdates and many people 'choose' a birthdate for their national ID) a 2:01:09 in his 40s (mid-40's??)?? Either way, this guy has done some impressive racing for a long, long period of time and deserves all the kudos.