Gebrselassie to Retire from Athletics
Haile Gebrselassie, the Marathon World record holder has announced his retirement from Athletics. The 37-years old Ethiopian runner made the announcement after he had dropped out of his first New York Marathon after running mere 16 kilometres amid the knee
injury.
While talking to the media, the two times Olympic Champion was of the view that he had never thought of retirement, but for the first time in his life, that was the day. Gebrselassie had set the marathon world record at Berlin in 2008, while making it to
the finishing line in marvellous two hours, three minutes and fifty-nine seconds.
The guy marked 27 best records throughout his career, few of which brought him eight world titles since 1993, ranging in distance from the 1500m races to the marathons.
“Let me do another job, let me give a chance to the youngsters. I did very hard work to win this race, it didn’t work” said dishearten looking athlete.
Gebrselassie took attention of the spectators and athletes around the world when he first made his mark by winning the 10,000 meters world championship gold at the age of 20 in 1993. After finishing at fifth position in 2004 Athens Olympics 10,000 final,
he had announced his retirement from the track to completely concentrate on the marathon. He had won gold medals in Atlanta in 1996 and four years later in Sydney.
The legendary athlete, who has won more than 130 titles in major races around the globe, had a scan ahead of the New York marathon held on Sunday. The scan had showed fluid and tendonitis in his knee but despite of that he lined up for the race, which, he
unfortunately could not finish with. Sebastian Coe, the former middle distance runner who had also won two Olympics gold medals, while paying tribute to Gebrselassie said that he was the best runner of all times.
Coe, who also happens to be the chairman of the London Organizing Committee for 2012 Olympics games, said: “we will wait a long time before an athlete dominates over so many distances and across such an extra ordinary time period as Haile Gebrselassie has
done. The litmus test for a successful athlete is longevity at the very highest level and he had that in abundance.” He further stated that there is nothing he couldn’t do, and he did it with style. He believes Gebrselassie is the greatest athlete of the last
50 years and arguably the best of all time.
The former British distance runner Steve Cram while talking to an international sports channel correspondent said that he was a little surprised by Gebrselassie’s decision to retire, but the great athlete would be remembered as one of the greatest distance
runners. He was of the view that it was rather impossible for any other athlete to achieve as much as Gebrselassie did.
While acknowledging the achievements of the Ethiopian athlete Cram further said that he was a great champion and a great racer, but what set him apart was his range from 1500m, where he ran particularly fast indoors to the marathons was that he was impressive
on the road. He was good at cross country and was double champion on the track and had eight world titles.
Brendan Foster, the former British distance runner admitted that he was surprised to learn about the decision made by Gebrselassie for ending the career.
“I believe in fairy tales and I thought the fairy tale would be Haile finishing his career by winning the Olympics marathon in London in 2012 and I am really sad as his recent decision is a bit of shock for me. His management didn’t know anything about
it and haile said he thought about it himself and decided he would do it” Foster added.
He was of the view that he still had some hope as the athlete was still running fantastically well and there could be a change of mind from him prior to any next big event.
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