According to the final medal table, the Ethiopian athletics team finished the championship ranked 6th at global level and 2nd from Africa following Kenya at the recent World Athletics Championships, Budapest Hungary 2023. Ethiopia has collected nine medals in the Athletics Championships.
The Ethiopian athletics team returned home after winning two gold, four silver, and three bronze medals at the 19th World Athletics Championship that took place in Budapest, Hungary, from 19–27 August 2023. Ethiopian athletes have showcased outstanding performance and made a colorful victory at the challenging medium, long-distance, and marathon racing. Their victory fascinates everyone across the country.
What is more, the successive victory of the Ethiopian athletes will have enormous potentials to expedite the country’s tourism sector development. Participating and winning in such an international tournament is an important milestone to promote the country’s various natural, historical, cultural, among others gifts in the world arena.
The Ethiopian athletes have built a good name enchained with successive historical achievements of the world renowned marathon runner and first African gold medal winner Abebe Bikila.
Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe won a gold medal and set a world record while running barefoot at the 1960 Olympic Games held in Rome, then bested his own record at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Since then, Ethiopia has gained more attention from the international community and his victory also motivated international tourists to discover the country.
The female athletics team was more successful in the Budapest World Athletics Championship. Withstanding all the challenges the athletes wrote a colorful victory to themselves and the country.
The Ethiopian female athletes sweep the 10,000 meters medals. Gudaf Tsegay won the gold medal with an outstanding performance while Letesenbet Gidey and Ejgayehu Taye complete the all-Ethiopian podium, finishing second and third, respectively. This achievement showcases the team sprits of Ethiopians and sends a message of unity to become successful.
The competition and the victory also made all Ethiopians residing at home and abroad dragged their full attention and compelled them to set their eyes and mind on their TV screen. What is more, the competitions and the victories have shown Ethiopians unity and cooperation.
In his twitter page, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) tweeted that; “Proud daughters of Ethiopia raise the flag once again at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest. A sweep for Ethiopia in the women’s 10,000m.”
In his congratulatory message after the women marathon racing wrote; “Congratulations again to our female athletes at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 who claim gold and silver in the women’s marathon.
Together we are destined to achieve many more great feats.” Recently, the Ethiopian athletics delegation has received hero’s welcome upon arrival at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. The team, which registered an impressive results at the 19th World Athletics Championships, was welcomed by senior government officials including Culture and Sport Minister, Kejela Merdasa, Foreign Affairs State Minister, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano, Women and Social Affairs Minister, Ergoge Tesfaye and members of the athletics community.
The athletics team traveled through the main streets of Addis Ababa. The public also expressed deep respect and joy to the team chanting with victory songs. In doing so, the athletes’ success motivated the youths and residents of the city to further victories.
During his media briefing, Culture and Sport Minister Kejela Merdasa told local media that the Ethiopian athletics team has registered an impressive achievement at the 19th World Athletics Championship in Budapest.
Members of the Ethiopian athletics team who have taken part at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary, deserve warm welcome, the Minister of Culture and Sport said. He conveyed a congratulatory message to the people of Ethiopia, as well as to the sports loving families and the brave athletes for scoring a decisive victory in the 19th World Athletics Championship by making the country’s flag fly high in the world square.
As to him, the victory strengthens a winning mentality among the new generation and motivate other athletes further strive and to become successful in the athletics field. A hero’s welcome upon the return of the Ethiopian athletics team members to Addis Ababa was organized following the effective teamwork achievement at all racing.
Moreover, he pointed out that “our country, Ethiopia, is a country that has been registering impressive achievements with its brave athletes from the 1st World Athletics Championship to the 19th World Athletics Championship.”
Accordingly, having such an impressive reception ceremony to the athletes that made Ethiopia proud and built the image of the country at the international stage will have significant contributions to initiate the new generation to follow their footsteps.
Ethiopians and the sports-loving community encouragement to the members of the team at the reception were observed while the athletes share their joy with the people by touring major streets in Addis Ababa.
In sum, the victory of Ethiopian athletics team in such tournament will have significant roles towards effectively promoting the image of the country. Moreover, the success of the Ethiopian athletics team could be a great lesson to the new generations to fulfill their responsibilities effectively and strive to make own history.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2023
