Quote

You know the marathon in my country is just exceptional. It's like soccer in England. If England win the world cup and Ethiopia win the marathon - it's the same.

Haile Gebrselassie

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Haile Gebrselassie
Age: 51
Born: 1973
Born: April 18
Athletics Competitor
Long-Distance Runner
Marathon Runner
Olympic Athlete
Asela
Haile Gebrselassie
World
Marathon
Exceptional
Cups
Soccer
England
Winning
Country
Like
Ethiopia

More quotes by Haile Gebrselassie

Image
I have to change a lot of things before I become a good marathon runner.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
The more you are getting older, you lose a little something. Of course there is another advantage, because of your long experience you can use it.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
I remember in particular my first victory when I achieved a very fast time in what were perfect conditions but since then the wind has always been a factor against me.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
I haven't done a marathon for a long time. So we'll see. I will need good luck.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
He was not a runner, my father, but he was quick. I always remember it was very difficult to escape from him when he was angry. If he wanted to beat us he would always catch us. Even me, he could always catch me.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
What is important is to win.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
When you run the marathon, you run against the distance, not against the other runners and not against the time.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
You know, I want to help my country. Definitely I can help them, simply by winning races. Sure, they can follow my path to a good career. But for me it is not enough. I want to be more than that. In everything I want to be a role model.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
Always, if you win mentally, you can win physically as well.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
If your body is damaged, wounded, it can be fixed, but if inside, mentally, you are wounded you cannot fix it, it's hard.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
This hand is not very active always, because it was in this hand that I carried my books. My carrying hand was always my strongest. Now I think my other hand has developed more muscles from signing all those autographs.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
It is not my duty to spend my money in my country, but it is what I want to do. There is nowhere else I would like to invest.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
Why should I say I will retire in three or four years? You retire the very moment you utter those words.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
That is not enough. Sport has been great for me, a great learning place that if you want to achieve you can, even if you are from the poorest part of Africa.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
In the rainy season, sometimes to get to the first lesson we had to run really quick, because we had to cross the river to school and we'd have to go up and down the bank to find a place to cross because there is no bridge.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
First, do enough training. Then believe in yourself and say: I can do it. Tomorrow is my day. And then say: the person in front of me, he is just a human being as well he has two legs, I have two legs, that is all. That is mentally how you prepare.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
My father thought sport was something fun - he didn't know it was a way to make money.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
What can you do if a part of it is uphill? You can't work out another route. You've just got to run the one they give you. But they tell me London is a nice course. Even the cobbles, I hope, are not very much of a problem for me.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
Athletes have to be confident and I am thinking like that.
Haile Gebrselassie
Image
I know what I want when I start a marathon: to win! But what do you want? Make sure you're clear in advance and don't go out too fast.
Haile Gebrselassie