By Tedla Asfaw
The Beijing Bird’s Nest was rattled tonight and the push and shove seemed an incentive for Ethiopian athletes to let the birds fly. Into the 14th minutes of the 5,000m it all became obvious who are going to be the winners and the question was who will conquer Beijing and the battle for gold started… continue reading below the video >>
Our Tirunesh/Tiruye Dibaba controlled and led the charge and both Elvan Abeylegesse/Hewan an Ethiopian representing Turkish and the defending Olympic champ Meseret/Mesi Defar were almost together on the final one hundred meters and Tiruye took the lead followed by Mesi and finally no one was behind Tiruye and she won and became the first female athlete to double both the 5,000m and 10,000m in Olympics. By doing so she has set high the bar for other Ethiopian female athletes.
Mesi won the bronze and no doubt the kick and shove she got before the completion of the race was a factor. You can see that at the end of the race the pain on her face. But make no mistake this day was Tiruye’s.
Her win is another inspiration for our Keneisa/Kenu Bekele tomorrow to do the same and be in a special group of athletes who won gold in 5,000m and 10,000m in Olympics, one of which is Miruts Yefter at the Moscow Olympics in 1980.
Kenu’s attempt for the first time in Athens Olympics in 2004 fell short and I have no doubt he will crack the Bird’s Nest in Beijing tomorrow night. The whole world is going to see not only double victory, he could set a new Olympics record like he did in the 10,000-meter.
Who will forget Tiruye receiving a huge Ethiopian flag from Ethiopian crowd after the race and
Elvan/Hewan staring at her birth country joyous crowd waving Ethiopian Flag and no one was fast enough to hand her a Turkish Flag and that was the moment my heart was broken.
What did Elvan/Hewan felt in that moment? No one can be sure that but her facial expression proved beyond any doubt that deep inside her if all should start again she will prefer to win a medal for her birth country and get that huge celebration by carrying Ethiopian Flag and join Tiruye and Messi as the jewels of Ethiopia and Africa.
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FORUM | 6 Comments
Tedla,
I had exactly similar thought about how Hewan might have felt when her adopted country humiliated her by failing to provide her with their flag after the tremendous courage she has shown to snatch a meat from the jaws of Ethiopian tigers. She did the impossible but Turkey doesn’t seem to appreciate it. Home sweet home!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 2:32 PM
I am sure if Hewan Legesse had her choice, she would rather carry the flag of Ethiopia any day, but as these Olympics are individual competitions, we congratulate our athletes Tiruye and Mesi as well as extend our heartfelt congratulations to Elvan Abiylegesse aka Hewan Legesse for winning the silver.
I don’t have the exact details but I have heard that Hewan’s change allegiance has more to do with Woyanie shenanigans that frustrated her to the point of running for Turkey, just like most of our top Ethiopian Airlines pilots are doing by flying for Middle Eastern airlines, invisible to most of us.
Let’s hope Kenenisa and Sileshi will repeat this exact same script tomorrow and put a big smile on the faces of Ethiopians all over the world. As long as the TPLF traitors are in power, our athletes are the only bright spot in otherwise bleak and destitute existence of an Ethiopian.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Tiruyeeeeeeee Anbessa. One more to go, Kanu for 5000 gold.
Elias, thank you for the video clip. NBC SUCKS!!!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Well said Surafel, thanks!!!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 4:02 PM
GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA THAT YOU GAVE AS SUCH WONDERFUL CHILDEREN ATLETES BRAVO ALL THIOPIANS ATLETES
MOTBAYNOR ABEBE BIKILA
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August 22nd, 2008 at 4:11 PM
I was so sorry for her too but guys it is not at all her fault please read this link what has been or are doing in the federation. Where ever what ever they can they put their Cadre in every place.
//www.ethiopianreporter.com/content/view/2754/54/
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August 22nd, 2008 at 6:20 PM