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Kenenisa Bekele (born June 13, 1982 in Bekoji/Arsi) is an Ethiopian distance runner who took gold in the 10,000 m. at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics and bronze at the 5,000 m.
As of 2004, he has taken both (short and long) races at the world cross country championships 3 years in a row. Nobody has accomplished this feat even once.
Most recently, in 2004, he broke the world records for the indoor 5000 m, outdoor 5,000 m. and outdoor 10,000 m.
- 5,000 m. world record 12:37.35 Hengelo, Netherlands 31-05-2004 from compatriot Haile Gebrselassie at 12:39.36 13-06-1998
- 10,000 m. world record 26:20.31 Ostrava, Czech Republic 08-06-2004 also from Gebrselassie at 5000m 26:22.75 06-01-1998
In 2 of 3 encounters with his senior compatriot Gebrselassie, Bekele has taken the win.
In the 10,000 m. at the 2004 Summer Olympics Kenenisa took the title away from his compatriot Haile Gebrselassie, who achieved a fifth place. Bekele closed the last 400 in 53.02 seconds, outkicking his teammate Sileshi Sihine. Bekele also took a close silver medal in the 5,000m in the same Olympics, being kicked down in the last 50 meters by the miler Hicham El Guerrouj.
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