Three-time Olympic Champion Tirunesh Dibaba Makes Marathon Return at Houston Marathon”
After a four-year absence from the marathon, three-time Olympic and five-time world champion Tirunesh Dibaba will return to the race at the 22nd Houston Marathon on January 15, 2023.
Dibaba will face strong competition at the Houston Marathon from American Emily Sisson and Ethiopian Hiwot G/Kidan, who won the event in 67 minutes and 11 seconds in 2022. Sisson has had a successful career in the marathon, with victories at the 2018 Chicago Marathon and the 2020 Boston Marathon. G/Kidan is also a talented runner, with a personal best time of 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 41 seconds in the marathon.
Despite the strong competition, Dibaba is considered one of the favorites to win the Houston Marathon due to her impressive track record and her previous success in the marathon. She has a reputation for being a fierce competitor and is known for her strong finish in races. If she is able to replicate her personal best time at the Houston Marathon, she could be in a position to challenge the world record for the event.
Tirunesh Dibaba is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who is considered one of the greatest female distance runners of all time. She has won numerous medals at international competitions, including three Olympic gold medals and five world championship titles. Dibaba first gained recognition in the running world when she won the 5000 meters at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, becoming the youngest-ever world champion in that event at the age of 20. She went on to win the 5000 meters at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In addition to her success in the 5000 meters, Dibaba has also excelled in the 10,000 meters. She won the gold medal in this event at the 2012 London Olympics and has won three world championship titles in the 10,000 meters (2005, 2007, and 2009). In total, Dibaba has won eight world championship medals and three Olympic medals, making her one of the most decorated runners in the history of track and field.
Dibaba has not competed in the marathon since 2017, but she will make her return to the event at the 22nd Houston Marathon on January 15, 2023. She holds the personal best time for the marathon with a time of 66 minutes and 50 seconds, which she set at the 2014 London Marathon. This time is the fastest ever recorded by a woman in the marathon and it is just minutes off the world record for the event.
Aside from her success on the track and in the marathon, Dibaba has also made a name for herself as a philanthropist. She has used her success as a runner to raise awareness and funds for various charitable causes, including building schools in Ethiopia and supporting women and girls in sports. She has been recognized for her humanitarian efforts and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2012.
As she prepares to return to the marathon after a four-year absence, Tirunesh Dibaba is sure to be a major player at the Houston Marathon. With her impressive track record and her reputation as a fierce competitor, she will be a runner to watch at this year’s event.
