Breaking Records: Athlete Sets New World Record in Track and Field
On the evening of July 30th, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan, history was made in the world of track and field. It was the women’s 10,000-meter final at the Olympics, and a young Ethiopian athlete named Letesenbet Gidey took the world by storm. She shattered the world record in the event, finishing with a time of 29 minutes and 1.03 seconds. The previous record of 29 minutes and 17.45 seconds was set by Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.
The magnitude of Gidey’s achievement cannot be overstated. The 10,000-meter race is one of the toughest events in track and field. Runners must maintain a fast pace for over six miles, battling exhaustion, dehydration, and mental fatigue. It requires a rare combination of speed, endurance, and mental toughness. To break the world record in this event is a monumental achievement, a testament to Gidey’s incredible talent and dedication.
Gidey’s victory was a moment of joy and pride for Ethiopia, a country with a rich tradition in distance running. Ethiopia has produced some of the greatest runners in history, including Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, and Tirunesh Dibaba, who holds the world record in the women’s 5,000-meter race. Gidey’s win shows that the legacy of Ethiopian running is alive and well, and that there are still new records to be broken and new histories to be made.
Letesenbet Gidey was born on March 20th, 1998, in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. She grew up in humble surroundings, in a small village without electricity or running water. Her parents were farmers, and Gidey had to walk long distances every day to fetch water and help with the family’s work. Despite these challenges, Gidey had a natural talent for running. She would often run to school instead of walking, and was known for her speed and endurance among her classmates.
Gidey’s talent was noticed by a local coach who invited her to train with his team. She joined a running club in the nearby city of Mekelle, and there she began to hone her skills. She quickly made a name for herself, winning several regional races and attracting the attention of national coaches. In 2014, Gidey was selected to represent Ethiopia in the World Cross Country Championships in China. She finished 11th in the junior women’s race, a promising debut on the international stage.
Over the next few years, Gidey would continue to improve and gain experience. She won the silver medal at the 2016 World Junior Championships in the 5,000 meters, and then took gold in the same event at the 2018 African Championships. In 2019, she made history by winning the bronze medal at the World Championships in the 10,000 meters, becoming the youngest person ever to win a medal in that event. However, Gidey wanted more. She set her sights on breaking the world record, a feat that had only been achieved by a handful of women in history.
Preparing for a world-record attempt is a grueling process that requires months of training and discipline. Gidey worked tirelessly with her coach, Getaneh Tessema, to design a training program that would prepare her for the challenge ahead. She ran up to 120 miles per week, doing interval training, hill runs, and tempo runs. She also paid close attention to her diet and sleep, ensuring that she was fueling her body and recovering properly.
The pandemic made Gidey’s preparation even more difficult, as many races were canceled or delayed. But she remained focused and determined, and finally got her opportunity at the Ethiopian Olympic trials in June 2021. There, she ran the 10,000 meters in 29 minutes and 54.36 seconds, breaking the national record and coming within 37 seconds of the world record. It was a sign of things to come.
In Tokyo, Gidey was one of the favorites to win the gold medal in the 10,000 meters. She faced tough competition from the likes of Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and Letesenbet Gidey of Kenya, but she was ready. From the start of the race, Gidey took the lead and set a blistering pace. She ran the first 5,000 meters in 14 minutes and 13 seconds, already faster than the world record pace. She maintained her speed and composure, ignoring the pain and fatigue that began to set in. She ran the last lap with a huge smile on her face, knowing that she was about to make history.
When Gidey crossed the finish line, she collapsed to the ground in exhaustion and joy. Her time of 29 minutes and 1.03 seconds was more than 16 seconds faster than the previous world record. It was an astonishing achievement, one that left her competitors and spectators in awe. Gidey was congratulated by her fellow Ethiopians, who were watching the race on TV screens in Addis Ababa. It was a moment of national pride and celebration.
Gidey’s world record is not only a testament to her incredible talent and hard work but also to the power and beauty of sport. Athletic achievements like this inspire and motivate people around the world, showing them what is possible through dedication and perseverance. Gidey’s record-breaking run will inspire generations of young runners, especially in Ethiopia, where distance running is an integral part of the national identity.
Breaking records is the pinnacle of sporting achievement. It takes a perfect combination of talent, determination, and opportunity. It also takes courage, to challenge oneself and push beyond the limits of what is considered possible. Letesenbet Gidey’s world record in the women’s 10,000 meters is a shining example of all these qualities. It is a moment that will go down in history, a moment that celebrates the power and potential of the human body and spirit.