News Archive

Tuesday 10 August 2004 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - The Ethiopian Athletics

Federation (EAF) have confirmed a final squad of twenty-seven athletes for

Athens Olympics.

Tulu returns for last Olympic stint

The highlight of the selections sees two-time Olympic and one-time World

10,000m champion Derartu Tulu make a record-equalling fourth appearance in the

history of the Games, an Ethiopian achievement that she will share with 1968

Mexico Olympics Marathon Gold medallist Mamo Wolde.

Tulu, the Sydney Olympic champion who had been omitted from a list

of 25 Athletes issued by the Federation three weeks earlier, now has a

fighting chance to become the first African to win three Olympic Gold

medals.

She has been given a starting role in the 10,000m team alongside World

10,000m champion Berhane Adere and silver medallist Werknesh Kidane, with

Ejigayehou Dibaba dropping as a reserve.

An Olympic place had looked to be well beyond the former World 10,000m

champion, despite a late run that saw her record a reasonable time of 30:51.07

for the distance on July 10 in Barakaldo, Spain, because E. Dibaba has a better

time of 30:43.01 for the 10,000m.

Tulu got the nod ahead of her 22-year old cousin because according to Endalk

Kelemwork, Technical Director of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF),

"we felt that Ejiageyhou =(Dibaba) will provide a better medal hope in the

5000m."

The 10,000m final in Athens will be the last ...