Living person. According to our records, Kenenisa Bekele is alive, so this timeline is open-ended. Recent events may be missing or awaiting verification, and details can change significantly.
See everyone currently living

Kenenisa Bekele

13 June 1982 – present

Kenenisa Bekele is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who held the world records over 5000 and 10,000 metres for more than a decade. He won Olympic gold medals in the 10,000 metres in 2004 and in both the 5000 and 10,000 metres in 2008, along with multiple world track and world cross country titles. He later moved to road racing and won marathons in Paris, Berlin and elsewhere.

Comparing
Compare

Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Kenenisa Bekele.

Life events

Born in Bekoji, Ethiopia
13 June 1982

He was born in the highland town of Bekoji in the Arsi Zone of Oromia.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Won consecutive short and long course World Cross Country doubles
2002 – 2006

He took both the short and long course titles at five successive editions of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Won the 10,000 metres world title in Paris
2003

He took his first senior world track title at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Set world records at 5000 and 10,000 metres
2004

He ran 12:37.35 for 5000 metres in Hengelo and 26:20.31 for 10,000 metres in Ostrava.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Won Olympic gold in the 10,000 metres in Athens
2004

He also took silver in the 5000 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Death of his fiancee Alem Techale
2005

The middle-distance runner Alem Techale collapsed and died during a training run with him.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Won the 5000 and 10,000 metres at the Beijing Olympics
2008

He completed the distance double at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Won the 5000 and 10,000 metres world titles in Berlin
2009

He completed the same double at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Won the Paris Marathon on his marathon debut
2014

He won in 2:05:04 in his first race over the distance.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Won the Berlin Marathon in 2:01:41
2019

His winning time was two seconds outside the world record at the time.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓