Gemechu Dida Diriba (born 12 September 1999) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner specializing in road running. He was the winner of the 2022 Great Ethiopian Run, and he has also achieved wins at the Lille Half Marathon 10K and KBC Night of Athletics 5000 m.
 2023 African Games | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Gemechu Dida Diriba |
| Nationality |  Ethiopia |
| Born | 12 September 1999 (25 years, 72 days old)[1] |
| Height | 171 cm (5 ft 7 in)[1] |
| Weight | 54 kg (119 lb)[1] |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | 10K run Half marathon |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals |
|
| Personal best(s) | 10K: 27:12 (2023) HM: 59:21 (2022) |
Medal record | |
| Updated on 15 January 2024 | |
Career
editDida debuted at the 2017 Great Ethiopian Run, finishing 6th in 29:21 representing the Adidas Development Group.[2] He ran two indoor 3000 m races in 2018, finishing 5th at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix and 6th at the Adidas Games in Boston with a best time of 7:42.14.[3][1]
Dida achieved his first international championship experience in 2019, when he was selected to represent Ethiopia at the 2019 African Games following his 13:17.47 5000 m performance at that year's Fanny Blankers-Koen Games. In his African Games final, Dida finished 10th in 13:46.40.[4]
After recording only two races in 2020, Dida competed in his first national final in 2021, finishing 4th over 5000 m at the Ethiopian Athletics Championships and then finishing 10th at their separate 5000 m Olympic trials two months later in Hengelo.[5][1] Dida won the 2021 KBC Night of Athletics 5000 m in 13:14.39 over heavy rainfall, earning him the moniker "lord and master".[6]
On 23 January 2022, Dida achieved the highest profile win of his career at the Great Ethiopian Run 10K road race. There was a large pack of runners in the beginning of the race, with six athletes still in the lead pack at 9,500 metres. Dida out-kicked the Dubai Marathon winner Getaneh Molla to win in a surprise victory. His winning time of 28:24 was only five seconds slower than the course record.[7][8][9] Having moved up in distance to the 10,000 m, Dida would win the bronze medal at that year's Ethiopian Athletics Championships and would set a half marathon best of 59:21 in his debut at the Romaostia Half Marathon.[10][1]
Dida finished 5th at the Ethiopian trials for the 2023 World Athletics Championships 10,000 m, held in Nerja.[11] He would nonetheless achieve wins at the 2023 Lille Half Marathon 10K and the Urban Trail de Lille 10K, the former in a personal best of 27:12.[12][1]
Statistics
editBest performances
edit| Event | Mark | Pl. | Competition | Venue | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10K run | 27:12 |  |
Semi Marathon de Lille | Lille, France | 19 March 2023 | [1] |
| Half marathon | 59:21 |  |
Romaostia Half Marathon | Ostia, Italy | 6 March 2022 | [1] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Gemechu Dida at Tilastopaja (registration required)
- ^ "Barega and Yimer take hard fought battles in Addis Ababa | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ LetsRun.com. "2018 Muller Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix Results". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "2019 ResultsBook" (PDF). caaweb.org.
- ^ T&fn. "Ethiopian Trials — Letesenbet Gidey's Turn For 10,000 WR". Track & Field News. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ bartpeeters (3 July 2021). "42nd KBC Nacht Offers Up Athletics From The Top Shelf". KBC Nacht van de Atletiek. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Yehualaw breaks race record at Great Ethiopian Run | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ Gary (24 January 2022). "17,600 runners flying the flag at TotalEnergies Great Ethiopian Run". endurance.biz. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Great Ethiopian Run 'the best 10km race in the world'". Nation. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Sawe and Kimais complete Kenyan double in Rome". www.michezoafrika.com. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ LetsRun.com (24 June 2023). "Gudaf Tsegay (29:29.73) & Berihu Aregawi (26:50.66) Win 2023 Ethiopian 10,000 Trials". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "British 5km record falls to Sam Atkin in Lille". AW. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.