Before the Paris Olympics year, the TCS New York City Marathon 2023 witnessed an overwhelming response because of the presence of the big track and field names. Despite the unwanted accidents and route breaks in that marathon, eventually, the race introduced itself as a perfect ground to test prowess before stepping into the Olympic season. That also motivated a former NAU sprinter to register who had a topsy-turvy experience that year in track and field. Several arguments were not on his side, but at last, he had his name etched on the topper’s list that day. 

Recently, in an interview, that 31-year-old marathon runner narrated his journey to track and field fame. In that version, his family came out as the ultimate motivating factor for him, going extra for the Paris Olympics trial. Hailing from a sleepy little hamlet in Eritrea, he’s  harboring sublime aspirations beyond yonder.

Futsum Zienasellassie’s had a bumpy ride, but success doesn’t elude him 

On January 27, Hoka TV released a YouTube video titled, Humans of HOKA: Futsum Zienasellassie. In the video, Futsum Zienasellassie’s introduction came as the winner of multiple championships in the last few years. However, Zienasellassie started his words by explaining how his fatherhood color changed his persona compared to the previous occasions. “Becoming a father what has done for me is just to be able to lead someone by your action”. For a guy who had to leave his native land at 14 years of age, and coming to the Paris Olympics notion lately, those words panned out to be magical. Eventually, fatherhood is also something that made him announce a comeback in 2022. 

On his return to the track, Futsum had claimed the 6th position in the US 15km Road Running Championships. After that, the big shift over had come in Indianapolis. There, the 31-year-old athlete had claimed the second position in the USA Half Marathon Championship. Since then, there has been no turning back. In 2023, the largest result of continuous improvement came in the TCS New York Marathon. Futsum Zienasellassie claimed the 10th position. In that list, the 8th position went to someone who used to be a NCAA rival of Futsum. Eventually, that Kenyan sprinter is also eyeing the Paris Olympic berth. 

The backstory of a firebrand phenom

Futsum Zienasellassie had claimed multiple distinctions in collegiate track and field championships in his NAU time. Reportedly, those years had witnessed the sprinter bow down only in front of Kenyan sprinting legend Edward Cheserek. But after 2016, Futsum had become irregular in the field where Cheserek had continued to sprinkle his performances. In the aforementioned interview, the Eritrea-born athlete explained that situation as “being back at the bottom” , a portent to already fearing losing the pro status. But running had remained with him as he narrated it as giving him succor and identity. Moreover, his responsibility to give “110%” on the tracks also did its job of bringing him back into the field. Eventually, that led to the striving for the Paris Olympics trial.

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“I don’t ever be in a position and tell my son you’re not giving 110% when I know I didn’t do that myself,” he conceded in his support. Will these tidbits see him on the Olympic ground, though?

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