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Black History Month: Meet The Dibaba Sisters

By Addis Insight February 4, 2022
Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia (R) poses with her sisters Genzebe (L) and Ejegayehu (C) after setingt a new world record in the women's 5000m Golden League event at Bislett stadium in Oslo on June 6, 2008. The 22-year-old reigning two-time world 10,000m champion, running at the second of the six-meet Golden League series, finished in 14min 11.15sec, smashing the previous record of 14:16.63 set by compatriot Meseret Defar at last year's Bislett Games in Oslo. AFP PHOTO / Stian Lysberg Solum/ scanpix

The Dibaba sisters from Ethiopia are the fastest family on earth. They are the only siblings in recorded history to hold concurrent world records and have gold medals, two silvers, three bronze, and 15 world championships.

One thing that makes the story of the stunning ladies even more impressive is that they were raised by peasant parents who were farmers.

Tirunesh is well known, with three Olympic gold medals. And Genzebe is a long-distance runner and 2015 1,500-meter World Champions gold medalist. Ejegayehu Dibaba, their older sister, is an olympian, two winning silver from Athens.

The runners’ feat is also accredited to their diet — especially teff rich in iron and calcium — and their “small, lightweight frame.” The Dibaba sisters have the body type suitable for sports, analysts say.

Still, the sisters continue to glow brightly in the sports world. The sisters, alongside their in-laws, are real estate moguls owning several buildings in Addis Ababa. And just like other successful athletes, the Dibabas have invested their monies back into their communities.

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