Ethiopian Athlete Letesenbet Gidey breaks 10,000m World Record

Ethiopian athlete Letesenbet Gidey has broken the 10,000m world record in a time of 29:01.03 to win the Ethiopian Trials on Tuesday in Hengelo, Netherlands.

Gidey,23, broke the record which was set by Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan on the same track two days ago, improving the mark by five seconds.

Hassan had run 29:06.82 to slice almost 10 seconds off the record set by Almaz Ayana at the 2016 Olympics, but Gidey, who last year claimed the world 5,000m record, demolished that new mark to finish in 29:01.03, more than a minute ahead of Tuesday’s runner-up Tsigie Gebreselama.

“I expected to run a world record,” said Gidey, who became the first woman to hold both the 5,000m and 10,000m world records since Norway’s Ingrid Kristiansen from 1986-1993.

“What a special night, I am so proud that after the 5,000 metres world record I am now the 10,000 metres world record holder as well. In this Olympic year it is the perfect preparation (for next month’s Tokyo Games).”

Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.