Athletics: Gebrselassie wins major Spanish award

MADRID: Ethiopia’s marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie won Spain’s Prince of Asturias sports award. The smiling 38-year-old Ethiopian, who has two Olympic golds in the men’s 10,000 metres and has won four world championships, beat the world marathon record in Berlin in 2008, finishing in two hours, three minutes and 59 seconds. “Considered the best distance runner of all time, Gebrselassie is an extraordinary example of sacrifice and self-improvement who has been a leading figure among the sports elite for over two decades,” said the jury.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2011.