Gezahegne Abera (ETH) wins the 2000 Olympic Games marathon title (© Getty Images)
Reigning Olympic Marathon champion Gezhagne Abera has managed to beat off his injury woes and is included in the Ethiopian Olympic team announced by the Ethiopian Athletics Federation.
The 26-year old, who had withdrawn from his last two Marathons due to injury, had looked to have lost out on his battle to beat fitness and get inclusion in the Olympic squad after it was revealed, following his high-profile exit from the London Marathon in April, that he would require surgery on an Achilles tendon.
Abera has since received minor treatment postponing surgery so he can compete in Athens for the chance to become only the third person in the history of the Olympics to win two Marathon titles 'back to back' after East Germany’s Waldemar Cierpinski (1976 & 1980), and the father of Ethiopian running success, Abebe Bikila (1960 & 1964).
However, given the circumstances surrounding his injury doubts will obviously remain whether he can recover the form that saw him win back-to-back Olympic and World titles (Sydney 2000 and Edmonton 2001).
Athens family affair
Abera's inclusion also means that Athens will be very much a family affair, as his wife Elfnesh Alemu is also selected for the women's team. Alemu has shown some remarkable form this year finishing second in the Boston Marathon and is the country's in-form runner at the distance.
The surprise news in Ethiopia's Marathon selection is the omission of Olympic bronze medallist Tesfaye Tola, whose year has also been blighted by injury and lack of form. The 30-year old's place in the team goes to Anbesse Tolossa, the winner of the Paris Marathon in May. The other two Ethiopians in men's team are Teferi Wedajo and Hailu Nigussie.
Ethiopia has also gone for ‘youth’ in the women's marathon line-up with another high profile omission in the form of Fatuma Roba, the Atlanta Olympic Games Marathon winner. The 31-year old had looked on the road to a comeback after winning the Nagano Marathon in May, but her late charge now looks insufficient to warrant a third Olympic appearance.
Without Roba, Ethiopia's chances will depend on Alemu and Asha Gigi, the 23-year old who finished second in this year’s Paris city marathon. The diminutive Shetaye Gemechu and Werknesh Tola occupy the other two positions in the Marathon team.
The Marathon team is coached by Dr. Yilma Berta with Captain Zelalem Desta acting as his assistant.
Bekele picked for possible double
In the wider Ethiopian Olympic selection, World 5000m and 10,000m record holder Kenenisa Bekele, who currently has an Achilles injury, has been selected for both the 5000m and 10,000m.
Reigning two-time Olympic 10,000m champion Haile Gebrselassie goes for an unprecedent third crown in Athens.
Tulu out
Derartu Tulu the reigning women’s Olympic champion at 10,000m, who also won the title in 1992, is the major omission from the women’s track squad.
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
Ethiopia's Olympic Athletics Team (includes reserves)
Men
800m
Berhanu Alemu
5000m
Kenenisa Bekele
Dejene Berhanu
Gebregziabher Gebremariam
Sileshi Sihin
10,000m
Kenenisa Bekele
Haile Gebreselassie
Sileshi Sihin
Gebregziabher Gebremariam
Marathon
Gezahagne Abera
Teferi Wedajo
Hailu Nigussie
Anbesse Tolosa
3000m Steeplechase
Tewodros Shiferaw
Leulseged Walle
Women
1500m
Kutre Dulecha
Meskerem Legesse
Mestawot Taddesse
5000m
Tirunesh Dibaba
Ejigayehu Dibaba
Sintayehu Ejigu
Meseret Defar
10,000m
Berhane Adere
Workinesh Kidane
Ejigayehu Dibaba
Marathon
Elfinesh Alemu
Werknesh Tola
Ashia Gigi
Shitaye Gemechu