Kenenisa Bekele to take part in Dubai Marathon

Three-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia will take part in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on 23 January, organisers of the IAAF Gold Label Road Race announced on Sunday (14).

The 32-year-old will be competing in just the third marathon of his career, following his victory in Paris last year in a course record of 2:05:04 and his fourth-place finish in Chicago in October in 2:05:51.

Bekele still holds the world records for the indoor and outdoor 5000m as well as the 10,000m. He has been world champion 18 times on the track and cross country and possesses three Olympic gold medals. He is the first and only athlete to be world indoor and outdoor, world cross-country and Olympic champion.

“I have been following the race for some time now and I know Dubai has a very flat course that produces fast times,” said Bekele. “Of course, it is not east to step up to the marathon distance and set records but I am looking forward to the challenge of lining up in Dubai next month. Hopefully, I can produce a very quick time.”

Read more at: IAAF.org