Letesenbet Gidey runs the 4th-fastest 5000m in history
Letesenbet Gidey makes a huge impression in Berlin. The Ethiopian clocks the 4th-best performance in history over 5000m
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This Sunday, 03 September, will stay with Letesenbet Gidey and live on in athletics history. The Ethiopian won the 5000 m at the Berlin meeting in 14:08.79. It is an exceptional run, simply the 4th-best performance of all time. She finished 3.59 seconds off the world record held by Faith Kipyegon. Kipyegon ran 14:05.20 on 9 June at Charléty.
Letesenbet Gidey therefore writes herself further into 5000 m history. The 25-year-old has another distinction too. Leaving the current world record aside, she holds the second-, third- and fourth-fastest times in history. Proof that Gidey is one of the absolute benchmarks over this distance.
A CV as long as your arm
Before 2023, Letesenbet Gidey had already made her mark. In 2020, aged just 22, the Ethiopian caused a sensation in Valencia with the 5000m world record of 14:06.62. It was a record that had stood since 2008 and her compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba (14:11.15). She held that title as the fastest woman over 5000 m until 2023.
Gidey is also the 10,000 m world champion, winning in 2022. She also holds the world record over that distance (29:01.03 in 2021). In addition, she broke the half-marathon world record (1:02:52 in 2021). All of which means her run in Berlin on Sunday is simply the logical next step after years of top-level performances. Her coming duels with Kipyegon promise to be hard-fought.
3rd September - #Tigray's Letesenbet Gidey just won the ISTAF Berlin 5,000m in 14:08.79 in Berlin Germany
Letesenbet now has the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fastest times ever in the 5K.
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🔗https://t.co/yZIGKVl4RY pic.twitter.com/P2rVDy7acp— Tigray Update (@TigrayUpdate) September 3, 2023