WATCH: The story of the women on the NN Running Team
Three-time world record holder Letesenbet Gidey opens up on what it is like growing up as a female runner in Ethiopia
The world’s top distance running team (NN Running) released a short documentary on their YouTube page about the female Ethiopian runners on the team.
In the short video, three-time world record holder Letenesbet Gidey and her training partner Yalemzerf Yehualaw talk about what it was like growing up as a female distance runners in Ethiopia.
“When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a doctor or pilot, but now as a professional athlete – I am having fun,” said Gidey. “When I first started the sport, I liked it, and I wanted to run. I believe that I can do anything.”
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It is difficult to pursue the sport as a woman in Ethiopia – your parents want you to get married and start a family young. Gidey also noted that there aren’t many programs in Ethiopia for young females to train and that going out for a run is unsafe.
Both Gidey and Yehualaw mention that Ethiopian running greats Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie have done a lot to grow the sport in Ethiopia, “Conditions today for female runners are better than they were 10 to 15 years ago,” said Gidey.
“Our (NN Running) group is a family,” said Yehualaw. “We encourage each other and work together to make everyone better.”
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Both Gidey and Yehualaw reflected on their records so far and said they aren’t finished yet. Both athletes want to break more world records to set a precedent for aspiring female runners.
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