Kenenisa Bekele is a legend, with a cabinet full of medals including three Olympic golds and five World Championship titles. At 42, when he decided to compete in the Paris Olympics, he was instantly a top contender for the long-distance gold. As the most successful runner in the history of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, he was poised for another podium finish. However, the Paris Olympics did not turn out as everyone had expected for the Ethiopian sprinting sensation.

When fans were expecting a top finish from the sprinting legend, Bekele ended up 39th with a time of 2:12:24. This result was a shock to everyone. However, the Ethiopian athlete has now revealed that an injury dashed his hopes for another Olympic medal. Kenenisa also shared that his motivation for the Olympic run was not solely about winning medals. Let’s delve into the details.

Kenenisa Bekele’s Motivation lies beyond medals

A post on X by Athletic Weekly featured a comment from the Ethiopian legend that he was suffering from excruciating pain during the race. It was an ordeal that would have easily forced an athlete to give in. But champions are made of different stuff. Bekele revealed he was thinking of dropping out at 15 km; however, despite the mind-numbing pain, he pushed on for the “love of his country” and support showered throughout his career by the fans. “The Olympics isn’t just about winning medals; it’s about showing resilience and determination,” he said.

For Kenenisa Bekele, who has already etched his name in history as the world’s greatest marathon runner, medals aren’t the only motivation to push through to the finish line. The veteran runner, with experience from five Olympics and multiple podium finishes, found it hard to accept finishing 39th in Paris. However, the 11-time World Cross Country Champion revealed that he suffered a devastating hamstring injury during the Olympic Marathon.

Through sheer grit and the determination to see it through to the end, the Ethiopian runner turned the Paris Olympics marathon into a heroic odyssey of pain and perseverance. However, this isn’t the first time Bekele has demonstrated his iron will. His qualification for the Paris Olympics itself stands as a testament to his unyielding spirit.

Kenenisa Bekele loves defying the odds

The Paris Olympics became the grand stage for Bekele, allowing him to showcase his extraordinary strength and endurance. However, his Olympic qualification itself is a remarkable achievement. At 42, he was considered a long shot. Bekele, who once dominated the tracks, appeared as a shadow of his former self. He failed to secure a place in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and hadn’t finished a race in the last 12 months, making his chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics seem bleak.

However, the 2024 London Marathon once again showcased the Bekele marvel, as he finished second with an impressive time of 2:04:15. This performance was enough to secure his place on the six-member Ethiopian team bound for Paris 2024. His unwavering passion to race and reach the finish line, regardless of the results, is a testament to his enduring legacy and solidifies his status as one of the greatest long-distance runners of all time.