Ayalew seeks to fulfill sister’s dream in Bydgoszcz

Ethiopian athletics is full of successful siblings with the likes of the Bekeles (Kenenisa and Tariku) and the Dibabas (Tirunesh, Genzebe and Ejegayehu) all winning global medals on both the track and cross-country. Now the Ayalew family looks to be the next in line.

When Hiwot Ayalew, winner of the Ethiopian trials last month, lines up for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz later this week, she will hope to do better than her older sister Wude in winning the family’s first individual World cross-country medal.

Despite her four appearances at the World Cross, Wude, the 2009 World 10,000m bronze medallist, has two fifth-place finishes (in Fukuoka 2006 and 2009 Amman) to her credit.

“She [Wude] was my inspiration to take up athletics seriously,” says Ayalew of her sister. “She has supported me in every aspect. When I began running, she had already started representing her country. I am proud of her.” Read more