Athlete Tilahun Haile's message from Budapest, Hungary

Let the people of Ethiopia judge me, Athlete Tilahun Haile's message from Budapest, Hungary. Ethiopian athletics has a rich and storied history, with Ethiopian athletes consistently achieving remarkable success on the international stage.

Ethiopia has a long tradition of running, with running being deeply ingrained in the country's culture and history. The endurance running abilities of Ethiopians were showcased during the early Olympic Games. In 1960, Abebe Bikila became the first Ethiopian to win an Olympic gold medal when he won the marathon in Rome, running barefoot.

In the 1990s, Ethiopian athletes began to emerge as dominant forces in long-distance running events. The success of Ethiopian runners can be attributed to a combination of factors, including high-altitude training, a running culture deeply embedded in the country, and the development of training programs and infrastructure.

Haile Gebrselassie, often considered one of the greatest distance runners of all time, played a significant role in putting Ethiopian athletics on the global map. Gebrselassie won multiple Olympic and World Championship titles in events such as the 10,000 meters and set numerous world records during his career.

Kenenisa Bekele followed in the footsteps of Gebrselassie, achieving remarkable success in both track and cross-country events. Bekele holds world records in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters and has won numerous Olympic and World Championship medals.

In recent years, athletes like Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, Tirunesh Dibaba, Meseret Defar, Genzebe Dibaba, Almaz Ayana, and Eliud Kipchoge have continued to enhance Ethiopia's reputation as a powerhouse in distance running.