View source for Gezahegne Abera

{{short description|Ethiopian long-distance runner}}
{{BLP one source|date=August 2021}}
{{Patronymic name|Gezahegne|Abera|his|father}}

{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific_prefix   = 
| name               = Gezahegne Abera
| honorific_suffix   = 
| image              = GezahegneAberaInFrontOfMyCar.jpg
| image_size         = 
| image_upright      = 
| landscape          = 
| alt                = 
| caption            = 
| native_name        = ገዛኸኝ አበራ
| native_name_lang   = am
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1978|4|23|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Etya]], [[Arsi Province]], [[Derg|Ethiopia]]
| nationality        = Ethiopian
| height             = <!-- Not publicly available -->
| weight             = <!-- Not publicly available -->
| spouse             = [[Elfenesh Alemu]]
| children           = <!-- Not publicly listed -->
| sport              = Men's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]]
| event              = [[Marathon]]
| turnedpro          = 1999
| retired            = mid-2000s
| medaltemplates     = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Athletics (sport)|Athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ETH}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]]|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon|Marathon]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[World Championships in Athletics]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics|2001 Edmonton]]|Marathon}}
| show-medals        = yes
| module3 = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = Vice President of [[Ethiopian Athletic Federation]]
| term_start = 14 November 2018
| predecessor = 
| successor =
| president = [[Derartu Tulu]]<br>[[Sileshi Sihine]]
}}
}}

'''Gezahegne Abera''' ([[Amharic]]: ገዛኸኝ አበራ; born 23 April 1978) is an Ethiopian [[Athletics (sport)|athlete]] and winner of the [[Marathon (sport)|marathon race]] at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]]. 

Born in [[Etya]], [[Arsi Province]], Gezahegne's first international competition was the 1999 [[Los Angeles]] Marathon, where he finished fourth, behind three [[Kenya]]ns. That earned him a place in the Ethiopian [[1999 World Championships in Athletics|1999 World Championships]] team, where he finished eleventh.

Later in the 1999 season, Gezahegne won his first international marathon,<ref name="FT"/> finishing first at [[Fukuoka, Fukuoka|Fukuoka]] marathon in Japan. He won that marathon again in 2001 and 2002. In 2000, Gezahegne finished second in the [[Boston Marathon]].

At the [[Sydney]] [[Olympic Games|Olympics]], the marathon race came down to two Ethiopians, Gezahegne and [[Tesfaye Tola]], and Kenyan [[Erick Wainaina]]. At the 37&nbsp;km mark, Wainaina tried to make a break, but 2&nbsp;km later Gezahegne surged to the lead and held the position to the finishing line. At 22 years old, Gezahegne was the youngest marathon champion since [[Juan Carlos Zabala]] in [[Los Angeles 1932]].<ref name="FT"/>

In 2001, Gezahegne won the [[2001 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] by a mere [[second]] ahead of [[Simon Biwott]] from Kenya to become the first person to achieve an [[Summer Olympic Games|Olympics]]-[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] marathon double.<ref name=FT>{{cite news |title=The Olympians: Gezahegne Abera, Ethiopia |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/fd0d226e-adec-11e1-bb8e-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1xSehPdIH |newspaper=[[FT Magazine|Financial Times Magazine]] |date=June 9, 2012 |author=Xan Rice}}</ref>

In 2003, Gezahegne won the [[London Marathon]] in 2:07:56.  At the [[2003 World Championships in Athletics|2003 World Championships]], Gezahegne had to abandon the race due to injury, but he was selected in the Ethiopian [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Olympic]] team. Again, injury kept him from the race. His wife [[Elfenesh Alemu]] was also selected to the 2004 Olympic team, finishing fourth in the women's marathon.<ref name="FT"/>

Gezahegne's repeated injuries ended his running career at a relatively young age. He and his wife own a hotel and property development business.<ref name="FT"/>
Gazagn is now a member committee of Ethiopian athletics federation.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040816200043/http://www.runningtimes.com/issues/04apr/abera.htm The Racer - Gezahegne Abera's Rise to World-Champion Marathoner by Neil Wilson]

{{Footer Olympic Champions Marathon Men}}
{{Footer World Champions Marathon Men}}
{{Footer London Marathon Champions Men}}
{{Footer Fukuoka Marathon Champions Men}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gezahegne Abera}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Ethiopian men marathon runners]]
[[Category:Ethiopian men long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Ethiopia]]
[[Category:London Marathon men winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races Best Marathon Runner Award]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:20th-century Ethiopian people]]
[[Category:21st-century Ethiopian sportsmen]]