Haile Gebrselassie to receive AIMS lifetime achievement award
The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) has named Haile Gebrselassie as the recipient of its lifetime achievement award in 2016.
The Ethiopian long distance great's many successes will be recognised at the fourth annual AIMS Best Marathon Runner awards dinner reception to be held in Athens, Greece on November 11 on behalf of the AIMS members who represent more than 410 of the world’s leading and most prestigious races from 110 countries and territories. That includes the BMW Berlin Marathon, a race which Gebrselassie famously won on four consecutive occasions between 2006 and 2009, setting world records in 2007 and 2008.
Gebrselassie is also a three-time AIMS world athlete of the year award winner.
"I am very happy that AIMS and their members and sponsors have chosen to honour me in this way," said Gebrselassie. "I am looking forward to attending the AIMS Best Marathon Runner awards dinner to spend a wonderful night with my friends in the marathon community in the home of the marathon, Athens, Greece."
Born in Asella Ethiopia in 1973, Gebrselassie first gained international attention when he won the 5000m and 10,000m at the World Junior Championships in Seoul, South Korea, in 1992. He went on to win two Olympic 10,000m gold medals and four outdoor world titles as well as many marathons around the world. Throughout his career he has set world records over a variety of distances from two miles to the marathon.
AIMS president Paco Borao said: "We are honoured to be able to recognise the achievements of Haile Gebrselassie and his unrivalled contribution to the marathon movement and world sport.
"Haile's success has been an inspiration to so many throughout Africa and around the world and his dedication is an example we can all follow."
