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The Ethiopian Dibaba sisters—Tirunesh, Genzebe, Ejegayehu, Anna, and Melat—have made history by becoming the first family to hold world records simultaneously in recorded history. The world’s fastest family boasts an astounding 15 World Championships, two silvers, three bronzes, and an outstanding collection of four Olympic gold medals.

The Dibaba sisters, motivated by their relative Derartu Tulu, the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in 1992, have succeeded in athletics and business, becoming profitable partners and business owners. Recently, the athletics community featured their uncommon family record, which garnered much attention on the internet.

The athletics feature of the World’s Fastest Family goes viral

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The @AfricanHub_ recently shared a picture of the five Dibaba sisters with the caption: “The Dibaba sisters from Ethiopia are known to be the fastest family on the planet. They are the only siblings in recorded history to hold concurrent World Records. They have 4 Olympic gold medals, 3 Bronze & 2 Silvers and 15 World Records.”

 The elder sister, Ejegayehu Dibaba, proved her mettle in long-distance running in 2004 when she won the silver medal at the Olympics in 10,000 meters. Meanwhile, the nest sister, Tirunesh Dibaba, is an accomplished long-distance runner with a historic record. Tirunesh’s accomplishments stretch beyond the track; she holds the world record for the 5000 meters, five medals from world championships, and three gold medals from the Olympics.

The middle sister, Genzebe Dibaba, was named the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year in 2015. Genzebe also broke several world records, including a gold medal in the 1,500-meter world championship. The Dibaba sisters continue to motivate and set an example for the next generations of athletes, inspired by their cousin Derartu Tulu, the head of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation. However, their success story is not limited to the sports industry.

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Skills beyond the tracks

The champion sisters have also proven themselves business savvy by investing in local businesses and their successful sporting careers. They are real estate tycoons in Addis Ababa and possess a number of homes and structures. Additionally, in 2013, the middle sister, Tirunesh, opened a three-star hotel.

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Meanwhile, a lesser-known fact about the Dibaba Sisters is their modest beginnings. The girls grew up in the southern part of Bekoji, where the family lived in a circular hut with no basic social facilities, as the parents farmed wheat and barley. The family moved to Addis Ababa after that.

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