EDITOR’S NOTE: Teddy Afro is about to get a well-known cellmate in Kality soon.
By BEHRAM KILIÇ | ZAMAN
ISTANBUL, TURKY – The biggest surprise of this year’s Eurasia Marathon was Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, who achieves great success every year in international contests. This legendary athlete, born on April 18, 1973, had been invited İstanbul as the guest of the Eurasia Marathon.
It was a great opportunity to talk to this top performing athlete, the winner of two Olympic gold medals with 26 world records and a man who has proven his skill in the 1,500, 3,000, 5,000, 10,000, 15,000 and 20,000 meters as well as of course the marathon. Only 35 years old, he still aims for new records. Just a month ago he broke the world record in the Berlin Marathon. Barring unforeseen circumstances, he intends to run in next year’s Eurasia Marathon.
We met in Sultanahmet and obtained permission for unrestricted access to every part of the Sultanahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque). We then rushed to a teahouse. He admired the teahouse’s interior, decorated with Turkish rugs and ceramics. Before proceeding with the interview, we offered him tea or Turkish coffee. He insisted on tea.
Can you tell us a little about your family and your childhood?
I have nine siblings — eight older than me and one younger. I worked in the fields until turning 14, all the while attending school. The school was 10 kilometers from home and it was in these years that I began to run. I ran to school and ran back, with my sole fear being the cars that were on the road.
What does a child in Ethiopia dream of being when he or she grows up?
Every child in my village had his or her sight set on becoming a runner. Some wanted to pursue higher education.
Some say you cannot extend your left arm completely because of all the books you carried. Is this true?
Yes. I had to run for 10 kilometers to get to school and had to pay attention to not dropping the books, so I would always squeeze them with my arms. This has had a great effect on my current running style. I cannot extend my left arm fully while running.
When did you get your first running shoes?
While in high school. Before that, I got my first normal shoes at the age of 13. Until then, I walked and ran barefoot. There were times when I was in much pain. But everyone in my village was barefoot. In time, you can get used to it.
How were your parents able to take care of 10 children? What was your house like?
We had a small, wooden straw house. It had only one big room and the entire family lived in that room. One kid in one corner and another in another corner. The kitchen, too, was in this room. My parents were peasants. We helped them out. We also owned cows and horses.
Who first discovered your skills?
My teacher while I was in high school.
Did you think at the time that you would be an athlete?
Yes, I did. Like every child, I wanted to become a good runner and always imagined myself as a great athlete. When I was 14, I ran in a school contest and won first place in the 1,500-meter event.
How do you prepare for runs?
I train twice every day before any race. The morning run is critical and usually lasts for about three hours. This is the most important form of training for me. Other than that, I engage in gymnastics for about an hour. Before the race, I eat food rich in carbohydrates, such as macaroni — but not excessively. I then take a warm shower and get a massage. To distract my mind, I listen to music. I go to bed early and I don’t leave out preparing spiritually as well.
What did you eat when you were a child?
There was no special food. We ate whatever we could find, but I can say that we mostly ate corn.
And now?
Again, I have no special diet. I eat every type of food.
You hold 26 world records. Which of them is most special to you?
The record I broke in the last Berlin Marathon. There, I improved my own record. But I am determined to improve it further. I can assure you that I will break another record in the marathon to be held in London (The London Marathon will be held in April).
Will you attend the 2012 London Olympics?
Of course. I am still very young. (Pointing to his translator) He’s the old one here!
The world athletics community admires you. Who do you admire?
Abebe Bikila and Emil Zatopek. (Bikila, an Ethiopian marathon runner, won a gold medal in the Rome and Tokyo Olympics in 1960 and 1964, respectively. He ran barefoot in both races. Czech athlete Zatopek came in first in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter and the marathon in eight days at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.)
Do you think there will be athletes as successful as you are?
Yes, there will be many.
If you were an athletics critic, how would you describe yourself?
(Smiling) An interesting question. I am shy. It is difficult for me to describe myself. Perhaps, I would say, “He wants to be the best.”
Will you quit the track one day?
I will run until I die.
The race is about to start and you are on the start line. What do you feel when you hear the gunshot?
Well… the beginning of a war. I feel like I am at war and that I have to win it.
Can you hear the cheering spectators?
Yes, of course… I must show them a good race.
We heard that you were thinking about a political career in the future. What sort of a politician will you become?
I want to become a prime minister so that I can work to better the conditions of my people. Poverty is the biggest problem of my country and I must do my part in the fight against this problem.
What do think about Elvan AbeylegessE running on behalf of Turkey?
This is her choice. She wants to run on behalf of Turkey and she has shown that she can do this successfully.
Have you received any offer to run for any other country?
Yes, many.
Why did you not accept them?
I am glad to run on behalf of my own country.
Let us finish this interview by asking about the purposes of your visit. How did you find İstanbul?
It is a beautiful city. As you can see, Sultanahmet is magical.
Will you attend next year’s Eurasia Marathon?
I will do my best to be here. The Eurasia Marathon is the only marathon that connects two continents. I learned that many athletes from my country won medals here. I would like to add this marathon to my collection of medals.
16 thoughts on “‘I want to become prime minister’ of Ethiopia – Haile”
It is good to hear that Haile wants to become a leader; above all he will be inspirational like Obama. He is admired and popular among the world people, more the incumbent PM of Ethiopia; this is enough reason for the PM to bear ill-thoughts and jealousy. The little guy at home will be very dismayed by this comment. The psycopath has nothing to feel like a big man but his deceptively and wickedly earned power in Ethiopia. I think Haile will be scorned and harassed for the next few years, if he really made such comment.
Haile are you out of your mind? do you know that you are sentencing yourself to a life imprisonment with out parol? Or confident that the prof will have you released? Anyways, once you are back home drive and speak carefully. Appologize for the slip the toung or be ready to join Teddy soon. Aftr having seen what Meles has done, leave alone others, to his closest friends like Tamrat Layne, siye Abreha and Kinfe I do not think it is a well thought idea.
Well, the world has known that Haile is a living legend for the generation in his outstanding achievement for almost the last two decades. He has invested his money well and is doing good business as well. His aspiration to stay long in the race business, i think, is something was drawing as long as he tries to keep alive all what are required to succeed. But as for the other ambition, to be a PM, i’ve got big reservation. I reckon that being a PM is not an easy job to simply go and grab, let alone for Haile with no academic and political background whatso ever. Actually, i can see why he wants to becomes a leader: If Meles comes from the jungle and controls the bigest nation in Africa and if the rest are also grade 4 graduates whom he well know b/c of his acquaintancy, there is no harm for him to think so. But here is my advice for haile, our main problem is not poverty; it is lack of good governance. It is lack of educated leadership. If you become a PM you would cause more harm than alivate poverty. Stay where you are; don’t try to mess about. May be, if you are thought to replace Meles for the dirty TPLF political game, i bet you would end up in turmoile. Everyone has a limited teritory of success in his life time. Enstine did want to be a president, neither Bill Gate. I think you should know your limit how far you jump before you plunge into the ditch.
There are some special people like haile, alamoudi, professor eferem, who are considered harmless by woyane and can say whatever they want.Hailes interest to be aprime minster would be considered as a joke. No one take it sereous, because he is in a country where power is possible only by a gun. You can not be what you dream to be unless you go to dedebit and fight for 15 years.
Mr. Elias. You are right on the nose. I think Haile knows better. I also think he is joking(bluffing). Otherwise, he is rattling the wrong cage standing too close. Lets sit back and watch how this is going to play out. Some stone hurlers may have already started the lurking process, you know. Haile! Look out!!!!!!!
Dear Haile:
I know you are an optimist. Obama got his motto from You “yichalal” yes we can. Dream high. Everything is possible. You just need to prepare yourself. Build yourself very well. I know you don’t like to handout money but atleast start microloan to poor families. Show people that you care. Invest in children’s education etc… Don’t worry, all you need is a genuine heart. You can always surround yourself with well educated advisers and become the best prime minister. Hopefully, by then most of the authoritarian leaders both in government and antigovernment groups will fade and give way by the force of nature and you will become prime minister. You have my vote.
Haile Berta yihon yihonal and qen.
Why not?
The very thing being a PM requires are: love for one’s country and people, dedication, and above all leadership. I don’t agree with Lilia’s comment on academic achivements; one do not need to be a graduate to be a political leader, besides people like Haile learn a lot from the success in life. We can cite many cases where popular sportmen/women came to the political arena and became leader,
Haile, yes you can.
I used to respect Haile for his achievment in the field of atheletics and his humility. He is an all time distance runner. think this has gone to his hesad and blinded his vision about who he is. Ethiopia is a country with immense problems. It is simply not a runnng field.Why does he underestimate the people of Ethiopia. He has nothing to show to be a Director of a govrnment offic lt alone the Primiership. He is better advised to keep running and amassing wealth rather than making himself a laughing stock. I am really ashamed for him.There is a saying in Ethiopia hich is “awoksh awoksh siluat metsihafune atebech”. Sinaga
Surely Haile would do better job than the tribal chief Melese Zenawi, at least Haile has some kind of rational thinking compare to those Tigrain war lords who are killing our people with no reason.
Having pride for being an Ethiopian and wishing the best for his county men and women makes Haile more preferable and sane than those unscrupulous Tigrains.
i agree with u mr editor. He better not to mess with meles.
…..old medal in the Rome and Tokyo Olympics in 1960 and 1964, respectively. “He ran barefoot in both races.”
Abebe ran barefoot only at Rome Olympics. Haile knows only how to run,. That is way he is aiming for the highest office of the country.
First of all, I disagree with those commentators such as 3 & 9 above who wrote that Haile cannot be a good leader because he is not well educated, etc. He could be an excellent leader who unites the country & inspires millions to achieve great things.
However, this is not the first time that Haile said he wanted to be a PM. He made similar but in fact stronger & more pointed utterances at the end of 2005. I guess he was warned because he changed his view & said he wanted to be only a successful athelete & businessman since 2006. This may be yet another change of mind (if indeed he made the comment quoted in the article).
On my part, I believe Haile could be a great leader if he surrounds himself with knowledgeable people whose utmost priority is to see the development of the country. I commented on this website only a couple of weeks ago expressing my view that, while Heile is my hero & perhaps the greatest ever long distance athlete, I would have liked him being a bit more outpoken about the problems Ethiopia is facing as he has the largest audience that no other Ethiopian commands. At the same time, I appreciate that this carries a certain degree of risk.
I am mindful that international audience or world leaders will not do our job but every little helps. Regarding the wicked Meles, I think he is too smart to mess with Haile knowing that Haile is perhaps one of the most recognised persons in the world. Meles already has too much on his table!
Why not! We are all Gods creatures, we have to dream high and achieve high. However, eventhough many outsiders in USA have become presidents just in their first try, It will be wise for our hero Haile to start some where like working with the people or take a position in any ministry or community and political activity
The bottom line is , not only wining the election. election is about words. when it comes to performance, this is where one can make history. As Haile already made history he may no want anything. However, let him sustain what he has achieved.
“One campaigns in poems and govern in prose”
This is a strong say. He can do it. But We do not want another Melesse.
Thank you
It is true that with success comes arrogance!I do admire Haile as he is a great athlete but I think his head is getting BIG!! I am praying and hoping that the future leadership of our great country will lay in the hands of well educated, country loving, caring and God fearing copmassionate individauls. Haile is just a runner and I am sure he loves his people and his country. Other than that what qualifies him to be a leader of our country? Does he have any political knowledge and experience? What is his intellectual and educational background? I am guessing none! So my friend just continue being the great athlete that you are!! Peace and God bless!!
Where is the hiccup of Haile being a Prime Minister of Ethiopia? We might say you need some kind of education to be a politician, which is true. However, the most determining factor for me to serve a country is commitment, loyalty, determination, ethics, and love to the people. We have seen many “well or highly educated personalities” in Ethiopian politics serve their uneducated masters like Melles, Mengistu or for that matter Hailesillasie. If to be educated means to be opportunists, murderers, and hodams then I prefer to have some one who is a naturally wise, intelligent character who happened to be a simple farmer as a prime Minister. Do not forget that social intelligence is above politics. Obama’s charm comes from his god given social intelligence and humility rather than his Harvard academic background. Politics means endurance, iron discipline, absolute dedication and Haile has all these trends and potentials. You do not just wake up and run a marathon. You need years of training, discipline etc to reach such a success worldwide. It costs blood sweat and tears to reach the achievements Haile has won to this day. The love and respect Haile won all over the world says everything about his personality. We have seen many athletes who won marathon in the past but nowhere have we seen some one who won the hearts of people worldwide. That is exactly what Ethiopia needs these days. Someone with a positive image, charm and elegance and our Haile has it all. So why should not Haile be a Prime Minister?