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Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie was born on April 18, 1973, in Arsella, a small town in the Arsi Province of Ethiopia. He was one of ten children in a farming family, and his early life was shaped by the rugged Ethiopian highlands. As a child, Gebrselassie ran ten kilometers each way to school and back, carrying his books under his arm. This daily routine at high altitude unknowingly built the aerobic foundation that would make him one of the greatest distance runners the world has ever seen. His distinctive running style, with his left arm slightly crooked as if still carrying those school books, became one of athletics' most recognizable trademarks.
Full profile →Wayde van Niekerk
Wayde van Niekerk was born on July 15, 1992, in Cape Town, South Africa, into a family with deep athletic roots. His mother, Odessa Swarts, was a national-level sprinter and softball player, and several relatives competed in various sports at high levels. Growing up in the Kraaifontein suburb, van Niekerk showed natural athletic ability from a young age, excelling in rugby, cricket, and athletics at school. It was in track and field, however, that his extraordinary talent would find its fullest expression.
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