Ethiopia’s famed distance runners have delivered a series of stirring performances at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, securing two silver and two bronze medals. Yet, with several races still to come, the ultimate prize – gold – continues to elude them.
The women’s marathon brought both pride and heartbreak for Tigst Assefa.
In a race that kept spectators on edge until the final moments, she pushed relentlessly through Tokyo’s streets only to be edged out in a sprint finish by Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir. Assefa’s silver medal, clocked at 2:24:45, was hailed as courageous but left lingering questions of what might have been.
On the track, Yomif Kejelcha delivered one of his finest performances of the season in the men’s 10,000m, finishing in 28:55.83.
His tactical run earned Ethiopia another silver, though the world title remained just out of reach.
Bronze medals came through equally resilient efforts.
Gudaf Tsegay battled through a fiercely competitive women’s 10,000m, crossing the line in 30:39.65, while Sembo Almayew produced a breakthrough run in the women’s 3000m steeplechase. Shattering her personal best with 8:58.86, she claimed her first-ever world championship medal.
Despite the absence of gold, Ethiopia’s prospects remain bright. The women’s 5000m final is widely seen as the team’s best chance.
Tsegay, buoyed by her 10,000m bronze, has advanced smoothly to the final, where her strength and finishing speed could prove decisive.
She will be joined by compatriots Medina Eisa and Fantaye Belayneh in what may be a coordinated effort to counter Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, the reigning 10,000m champion.
In the men’s 5000m, Ethiopians Hagos Gebrhiwet, Kuma Girma and Biniam Mehary are preparing to contend in one of athletics’ most unpredictable events. With their country’s deep legacy in distance running, they are expected to be serious medal challengers.
Traditional rivals, including Kenya and the United States, have already celebrated multiple gold medals, underscoring the intensity of competition in Tokyo.
For Ethiopia, turning silver and bronze into gold will demand flawless execution and perhaps a defining performance worthy of their nation’s storied running heritage.
For the athletes, and for the millions of Ethiopians watching with pride, the quest is more than a medal tally. It is a pursuit of glory that honours a legacy of endurance, determination and world-class excellence. With the championship not yet over, Ethiopia’s dream of gold remains very much alive.
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