Kenenisa Bekele Interview from 2016 Great CityGames Manchester

Kenenisa Bekele, photo by PhotoRun.net

Updated April 7, 2017

I am reposting this interview because I want to remind you of just how tough an committed that Kenenisa Bekele is as a marathoner. He is racing the Virgin Money London Marathon on April 23. This interview was from last May when Bekele battled Wilson Kipsang at the Manchester Great Run 10k. Anyone who discounts Bekele’s desire to be the greatest marathoner ever is missing the poing. Bekele was a tough track racer, and he has learnt, in the marathon world, that races do not always go as one desires.

This is the interview that I did with Kenenisa Bekele on Thursday, May 19 at the Great Run Manchester Presser.

Kenenisa Bekele is one of the finest distance runners of all times. The world record holder at 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, Kenenisa has focused over the past two years on the marathon. I watched him race his debut in Paris in April 2014, when he ran 2:05:02. His second marathon in Chicago was the beginning of his injury cycle and it was not until London 2016, when he ran 2:06, and finished a gutty third, that Kenenisa was able to break that cycle.

Kenenisa was quitely confident in this interview. Again, it was just hours before the Ethiopian selectors surprised many, including Jos Hermans, Kenenisa’s manager, by placing Kenenisa as part of the Ethiopian athletes in reserve for London. Note that the reserves are many times used by Ethiopia.

Kenenisa Bekele needs to show his fitness. This race, the Great Race Manchester 10k, takes on a stronger importance for the would be Rio marathoner.