Letesenbet Gidey
Letesenbet at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 20 March 1998 Endameskel, Tigray Region, Ethiopia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 50 kg (110 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | Ethiopia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Track, road and cross-country long-distance running | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | NN Running Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic finals |
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| World finals |
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| Highest world ranking | 1st (10,000 m, 2023) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal bests | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Letesenbet Gidey (Tigrinya: ለተሰንበት ግደይ, born 20 March 1998) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. In the 10,000 metres, she is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist, 2019 World silver medallist, and 2022 World champion. Her record of 29.01.03 is the second fastest time ever, only second to Kenyan rival Beatrice Chebet. Letesenbet is the first athlete ever, male or female, to hold the 5000m, 10000m, and half marathon world records simultaneously.
Letesenbet holds the current world record in the half marathon, which she set in October of 2021. Remarkably, this was Letesenbet's first ever half marathon. Her record broke the previous mark by more than a minute. She also holds the world best in the 15 km road race, which was also an improvement of over a minute. Letesenbet became the first woman to break the 64 and 63-minute barriers in the half marathon and the 45-minute barrier in the 15 km. She recorded the fastest women's marathon debut in history at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, placing her seventh on the respective world all-time list with a time of 2.16.49.
At age 17, Letesenbet won the junior race at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships. She retained the title in 2017 to take a bronze medal in the senior race in 2019.