Eritrea: Eritreans Never Give up Until the Finish Line

Asmara (HAN) August 24, 2015 – Public Diplomacy and Regional weekly Sports Initiatives update. Eritrea claimed the first gold of the world championships when unheralded teenager Ghirmay Ghebreslassie stormed to a shock victory in the men’s marathon on Saturday. Eritrean teen Ghirmay Ghebreslassie becomes youngest to win worlds marathon crown.

The opening day of the worlds in Beijing will later see sprint rivals Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin square up in the 100m heats while Mo Farah takes a shot at 10,000m history.

After a build-up marked by controversies over doping, competition finally got off to an early start when Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich defended his marathon title.

But in hot, clear conditions, Kiprotich could only finish sixth as 19-year-old Ghebreslassie took the lead from Lesotho’s Tsepo Ramonene Mathibelle on the 36km mark and saw off pressure from Ethiopian Yemane Tsegay for a memorable win in 2hr 12min 27sec.

“I am so proud of this victory. This is my first gold medal in my first marathon championship,” said the Eritrean, crowned the youngest ever world marathon winner in just his fourth race.

 

Photo: Eritrean teen Ghirmay Ghebreslassie becomes youngest to win worlds marathon crown


HAN & Geeska Afrika Online (1985-2015), the oldest free independent Free Press in the region, brings together top journalists from across the Horn of Africa. Including Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Djibouti, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Oromo, Amhara, Somali, Afar and Harari. Plus, we have daily translations from 150 major news organizations in the Middle East and East African regions. Contact at news@geeskaafrika.com


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2 Responses to “Eritrea: Eritreans Never Give up Until the Finish Line”

  1. S. Kiflom

    As an Eritrean, it would be easy to view this victory as only an Eritrean victory, easy to wrap oneself in a national flag and forget the past and not take the opportunity to glimpse into the future. The fact is, however, that East Africans, particularly Kenyans and Ethiopians, have been carrying the torch of victory in marathon around the globe for decades. And “not giving up until the finish line” is in the tradition of all Africans. I dream of the day an African nation finally wins that most coveted trophy, the World Cup! It will not matter which nation, as long as eleven Africans bring it home. It does appear, at least, in cycling and marathons, that Eritrea has picked a sustainable route for continued success–traditional minds with modern gear and young legs!

  2. axmed

    The Hamasen tyrant must free his people and let them live their miserable one Enjera a day life.He must be turned over to Djibouti ,Ethiopia, Uganda and Somalia and Sudan to tried publicly and punished for his international terrorist crime . He must be turned to the non Hamasen elders to put on trial for his crime against their children whose lives are lost in his stupid adventurous wars or escaping to in the desert or drown in the sea. If not we need the international help for regime change .

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