Meseret Defar all set to challenge world record again
A long distance runner of Ethiopian origin, Meseret Defar is a specialist at the 3000 meters and the 5000 meters. Currently twenty seven years of age, Defar is an athlete who demands no introduction, primarily owing to the fact that she has gained recognition endlessly through international tournaments.
A gold medallist at the Olympics as well as at the World Championships for a distance of over five thousand meters, Meseret Defar has demonstrated that long distance running is definitely her forte.
She has the distinction of being an athlete who broke a world record in 2006, repeated the same feat in 2007, and defended it until 2008. She was honoured with a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
While the Olympics have proven to be a great booster for her career, they are not the only international tournaments at which Meseret Defar has continued to display her athletic charm. A silver medallist at the Helsinki Championships held in 2005 and a beaming gold medal at the Osaka Championships held in 2007, Defar is truly deserving of all the success that has travelled in her direction.
An indoor record holder for the five thousand meters, three thousand meters, as well as the two mile leg, this Ethiopian athlete has consistently delivered tremendous performances, not only marking her legacy in the world of athletics, but also endlessly providing her nation with reasons to gloat with pride. Her list of achievements certainly does not expire here, since she also has the distinction of being a successive three time gold medallist winner at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.
The 1912 Olympics stadium in Stockholm, Sweden is all set to host another magnificent event, namely the women’s five thousand meters race. Although a late addition to the Samsung Diamond League, this event nevertheless will be acknowledged with great delight, and looked forward to by thousands of athletic lovers.
However, there is another significantly important reason which makes this event certainly one to look out for; it is precisely the location of Stockholm and the event of Samsung Diamond League that Meseret Defar has picked to set a new record at the five thousand meters sprint.
While this stadium provides this Ethiopian athlete with several memories to cherish, the most distinguished ones being a stadium record at the three thousand meters, five thousand meters, as well as the ten thousand meters, Defar has not set her eyes sharply at the world record.
Currently held by Tirunesh Dibaba, a fellow Ethiopian, at an extremely impressive completion time, this record is one that slipped out of Defar’s hands in 2008. While this particular stadium has proven itself to be lucky for Meseret Defar at numerous occasions, it is yet to be seen whether it will choose to be so for another occasion.
The 6th of August will therefore mark the arrival of the day when Ethiopian star athlete Meseret Defar will challenge the world record for five thousand meters. Considering the accolades she has allowed to be associated with her in the past, it can be hoped that she will be successful at achieving this dream.
Also consoling is the fact that she broke the record for the same distance twice and defended it for another year before giving way to another athlete. While one waits to see whether Defar’s dreams are materialized into a reality, one thing is undoubtedly clear that the prospects of this star athlete are seemingly bright.
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