Sileshi Sihine secured consecutive silver medals in the 10,000 metres at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Born on 29 January 1983 in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia, he established himself as a prominent long-distance runner during a career defined by consistent podium finishes in major global athletics competitions and cross-country events.
Early Career and International Breakthrough
Sileshi began his running career during his school years, influenced by the successes of Haile Gebrselassie. His transition to senior competition proved rapid. In 2002 and 2003, he secured victories at the Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños. During the 2003 World Championships held in Paris, he claimed a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres, participating in an Ethiopian sweep alongside Kenenisa Bekele and Gebrselassie. That same year, he earned a win in the 10,000 metres at the Afro-Asian Games.
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The middle of the decade featured ongoing competition between Sileshi and Kenenisa Bekele. In 2004, Sileshi won bronze at the World Cross Country Championships before taking silver in the 10,000 metres at the Athens Olympics behind Bekele. The 2005 World Championships in Helsinki saw Sileshi collect silver medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres. He repeated his silver-medal performance in the 10,000 metres at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, consistently finishing as the runner-up to his compatriot.
Later Competitions and Transition to Administration
In 2011, Sileshi attempted to expand his range, competing in the 5,000 metres at the Samsung DL Golden Gala in Rome and the 10,000 metres at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. His attempt at the marathon distance in Amsterdam ended with a withdrawal at the 36-kilometre mark. By 2012, he competed in the 5,000 metres in Oslo and a 10-kilometre road race in Birmingham. In 2015, he became president of the Ethiopian Athletics Association, a role he returned to on 22 December 2024 by succeeding Derartu Tulu at the 28th General Assembly of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation.
Fast facts
- Born: 29 January 1983, Oromia Region
- Sport: Long-distance running
- 2004 Athens Olympics: 10,000m silver medalist
- 2008 Beijing Olympics: 10,000m silver medalist
- Spouse: Tirunesh Dibaba
- Current Role: President of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation
- 2024 Appointment: 22 December 2024
Questions readers ask
What is Sileshi Sihine's role in the Ethiopian Athletics Federation?
He serves as the president, a position he first held from 2015 to 2016 and returned to in December 2024.
Who is Sileshi Sihine married to?
He is married to Tirunesh Dibaba, a three-time Olympic champion athlete.
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