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Ethiopia Haile Gebrselassie transitioned from an Olympic champion long-distance runner to a global icon and successful businessman, inspiring others with his relentless pursuit of excellence.
Richard (likely Richard Nerurkar, a British runner and ambassador to Ethiopia, which supports the 'Great Ethiopian Run' concept initiated by Haile) launched an online coffee shop to sell premium Ethiopian coffee in collaboration with Haile Gebrselassie and two running friends in the UK. This highlights Haile's involvement in promoting Ethiopian products and his business acumen.
Haile Gebrselassie signed a one-year commercial agreement with Diageo, a London-based beverage company. The nature of the agreement was not specifically detailed beyond it being a commercial deal in the beverage sector.
Haile Gebrselassie was featured in Adidas' 'adizero' campaign, highlighting the role of their footwear in his achievements. Specifically, he was mentioned in connection with being the first man to break the 2:04hr marathon barrier in 2008 while wearing Adidas shoes.
Haile Gebrselassie served as an event ambassador for the 10th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, an event with a USD 3,50,000 prize money, lending his prestige to promote the race.
Since 1998, Haile Gebrselassie has been working with the United Nations Development Program, acting as an ambassador to support initiatives related to development, although specific projects were not detailed in the provided context.
Haile Gebrselassie has a notable association with the BMW Berlin Marathon, participating multiple times and winning it four times consecutively. The news mentions his return to the race, indicating a sustained relationship.
Haile Gebrselassie backed London's bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. He expressed his intention to compete in London in 2012 and hoped his involvement would enable future Ethiopian athletes to participate.
Haile Gebrselassie received an honorary degree from the University of Birmingham, acknowledging years of collaboration. The specific nature of the collaboration was not further detailed.
Haile Gebrselassie serves as a mentor and ambassador for the G4S 4teen program, which is designed to support 14 young athletes in their development.
Haile Gebrselassie owns a dealership for Hyundai cars in Ethiopia and has expanded this venture to include the assembly of Hyundai electric cars, specifically the Hyundai Ioniq, since 2020 through Marathon Motors Engineering.
Haile Gebrselassie is a small-lot coffee farmer in Ethiopia, and his coffee, sold under the estate name Haile Estate (e.g., Sun Dried Ethiopian Haile Estate Coffee), is distributed by Starbucks Reserve.
Haile Gebrselassie is an ambassador for this German charity organization dedicated to the development of his home country, Ethiopia.
Haile Gebrselassie was born in Asella, Ethiopia, on April 18, 1973, as one of ten children. Growing up on a farm, he developed a distinctive running posture, with his left arm crooked, from running ten kilometers to school and back daily. This early daily routine laid the foundation for an athletic career that would see him become one of the greatest long-distance runners in history. His mother passed away from cancer when he was six years old.
Gebrselassie gained international recognition in 1992, winning both the 5000-meter and 10,000-meter races at the World Junior Championships in Seoul, South Korea, and earning a silver medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Boston. The following year, 1993, marked the beginning of his dominance in the 10,000 meters, securing the first of four consecutive World Championship titles. His victory in the 1993 World Championships was notable for an incident where he accidentally stepped on rival Moses Tanui’s shoe, causing it to come off, yet he still managed to win in the final stretch. Also in 1993, he secured a close second place in the 5,000-meter race behind Ismael Kirui of Kenya. His career was marked by significant achievements across various distances, ranging from 800 meters to the marathon, setting multiple world records.
Throughout his career, Gebrselassie earned two Olympic gold medals and four World Championship titles in the 10,000 meters. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and achieved three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon. He also secured four world indoor titles and was the 2001 World Half Marathon Champion. His diverse achievements across outdoor, indoor, cross country, and road running events, along with breaking 61 Ethiopian national records and 27 world records, underscore his status as a legendary figure in athletics. Post-retirement from competitive running in 2015, Gebrselassie has built a significant business empire in Ethiopia, including various resorts, a Hyundai dealership, an electric car assembly plant, and a coffee plantation, becoming a notable business mogul and a contributor to his home country’s development.
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