Home » Sports » Gebrselassie return prompted by passionate appeals
Passionate appeals from the Ethiopian public persuaded marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie to change his mind about retiring, the athlete told reporters on Friday.
The 37-year-old, regarded as the greatest distance runner of all time, announced he was quitting earlier this month after dropping out of the New York Marathon with a knee injury only to reverse the decision a few days later.
"The reason (I came back) is that people were commenting on the way I announced it. Everyone in Ethiopia was passionate and wanted me to be back," Gebrselassie told reporters.
The twice Olympic 10,000 metres champion said his initial decision had been down to emotion.
"I was shy and nervous when I spoke during that moment (in New York). I'm now even asking myself 'Was it me?'," he said.
Dubbed 'The Emperor' in Addis Ababa where he is revered, Gebrselassie won four consecutive world titles over 10,000 metres and has set 27 world records including the current one for the marathon when he ran 2:03.59 in Berlin in 2008.
Gebrselassie said he had no idea when he would eventually hang up his running shoes, but added: "I won't repeat (the manner) of such (an) announcement."
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