Haile Gebrselassie Quotes

Powerful Haile Gebrselassie for Daily Growth

About Haile Gebrselassie

Haile Gebrselassie, born on April 18, 1973, in Asella, Ethiopia, is a former long-distance track and road running athlete, widely regarded as one of the greatest distance runners of all time. Nicknamed 'The Ironman' for his resilience and extraordinary endurance, Gebrselassie's career spanned over two decades and saw him achieve unparalleled success in both the 10,000 meters and half marathon events. Growing up in a rural Ethiopian village, Haile began running at an early age, competing in local races and quickly demonstrating his natural talent for distance running. His first significant achievement came in 1992 when he won the African Junior Championships in the 5000 meters. This victory earned him a place on the Ethiopian team for the Barcelona Olympics, where he placed fourth in the 10,000 meters final. Over the following years, Gebrselassie continued to dominate the track and road running scenes, setting numerous world records and winning multiple Olympic and World Championship gold medals. In 2008, he set the marathon world record with a time of 2:03:59 at the Berlin Marathon, a record that stood until 2019. Following his retirement from competitive running in 2016, Gebrselassie has focused on philanthropic work, particularly in promoting sports and education in Ethiopia. He also serves as an ambassador for various global sporting events and organizations. Despite stepping away from competition, Haile Gebrselassie remains a beloved figure in the world of athletics and continues to inspire countless individuals with his determination, grit, and unwavering passion for running.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Pain is temporary. It's the temporary setback to accomplish a permanent goal."

Haile Gebrselassie's quote emphasizes that discomfort or pain, whether physical or emotional, experienced during challenging tasks or achievements, is transient in nature. This momentary suffering is a necessary sacrifice for achieving long-lasting goals and successes. In essence, the quote encourages perseverance through hardship to realize lasting accomplishments.

"Running is a big question mark that I put on the end of my day. It makes me forget about everything else - politics, arguments, business."

Haile Gebrselassie suggests that running serves as an effective stress reliever for him, helping him to escape from the pressures of daily life, including political disputes, personal disagreements, and professional obligations. In essence, he finds respite and momentary peace in running as it allows him to forget these concerns temporarily.

"The secret of my success is that from very beginning, I didn't run away from failure."

Haile Gebrselassie's quote emphasizes that his ability to confront and learn from failures has been instrumental in his success as a world-class athlete. The message encourages perseverance and resilience, implying that the fear of failure should not discourage one from taking risks or pursuing their dreams. Instead, viewing failure as an opportunity for growth can foster personal development and ultimately lead to success.

"In every competition you must show respect to your opponent, but after the race there are no friends, just rivals."

This quote signifies that sportsmanship and respect should be upheld during a competition, acknowledging all opponents as worthy adversaries. However, once the game or race is over, personal rivalries and individual ambitions come to the forefront, marking a boundary between friendly camaraderie and intense competition.

"If you don't give up on a dream, no one else will let you give up either."

Haile Gebrselassie's quote emphasizes the power of perseverance in realizing dreams. It suggests that when we hold onto our dreams with unwavering determination, others around us will not only respect but also reinforce this resilience, providing encouragement to keep going even in the face of adversity or doubt. The message is that our own commitment to a dream can inspire others to support us on our journey towards fulfillment.

When you run the marathon, you run against the distance, not against the other runners and not against the time.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Distance, Other, Against, Marathon

First, do enough training. Then believe in yourself and say: I can do it. Tomorrow is my day. And then say: the person in front of me, he is just a human being as well; he has two legs, I have two legs, that is all. That is mentally how you prepare.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Training, Believe, Prepare, Legs

Since I achieved something, running has exploded in my country. For me sometimes it is difficult even to know who the athletes are who are competing at the highest level. There are thousands.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Competing, Highest Level, Exploded

That is not enough. Sport has been great for me, a great learning place that if you want to achieve you can, even if you are from the poorest part of Africa.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Achieve, Africa, Been, Great Learning

When we race in London a world record will be the last thing on our minds.

- Haile Gebrselassie

World, London, Minds, World Record

I think if you come first with a new world record, that is the best.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Think, New, I Think, World Record

Many people know that Ethiopia is poor. When I break a world record, maybe people get to know something else about Ethiopia, something good. We can't make planes or cars, we don't have the materials. We do what we can.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Maybe, About, Something Else, World Record

If your body is damaged, wounded, it can be fixed, but if inside, mentally, you are wounded you cannot fix it, it's hard.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Your Body, Your, Wounded, Fixed

My father didn't think running was sensible. He told me running is just wasting time.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Father, Think, Wasting, Sensible

When I run in Ethiopia, I look out and see eucalyptus trees and rivers.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Run, Rivers, See, Ethiopia

I feel a social responsibility. We need to open people's eyes. There is a lack of education in Ethiopia.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Education, Need, Social, Ethiopia

You know the marathon in my country is just exceptional. It's like soccer in England. If England win the world cup and Ethiopia win the marathon - it's the same.

- Haile Gebrselassie

World Cup, Soccer, Country, Ethiopia

What can you do if a part of it is uphill? You can't work out another route. You've just got to run the one they give you. But they tell me London is a nice course. Even the cobbles, I hope, are not very much of a problem for me.

- Haile Gebrselassie

London, Part, Very, Uphill

In the rainy season, sometimes to get to the first lesson we had to run really quick, because we had to cross the river to school and we'd have to go up and down the bank to find a place to cross because there is no bridge.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Lesson, Sometimes, Quick, Season

I remember in particular my first victory when I achieved a very fast time in what were perfect conditions but since then the wind has always been a factor against me.

- Haile Gebrselassie

I Remember, Always, Very, Factor

Life is a kind of struggle. Life is a sort of fight.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Life Is A, Kind, Sort, Struggle

I find the business world hard.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Business, World, Find, Business World

When I had no shoes I was comfortable - I used to run barefoot. When I wore shoes it was difficult. To run in shoes was ok, but at the beginning of my career it was hard.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Beginning, Career, Difficult, Barefoot

He was not a runner, my father, but he was quick. I always remember it was very difficult to escape from him when he was angry. If he wanted to beat us he would always catch us. Even me, he could always catch me.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Always, Quick, Very, Runner

I have to change a lot of things before I become a good marathon runner.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Marathon, Before, Lot, Runner

I'm a runner first before anything else.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Before, Else, Anything Else, Runner

This is what I wanted. They tell me that London is the best field in history. I wanted to be part of that. Because everyone will be there it will be a wonderful challenge for me. You can see the best runners, how they look, how they run. For me to beat the best is what counts.

- Haile Gebrselassie

London, Will, Everyone, Runners

Schooling is so important.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Important, Schooling

If I don't train enough, of course I'm nervous.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Enough, Nervous, Course, Train

Athletics is in my blood.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Blood, Athletics

I was the kind of child who worked hard every day with the cows and sheep - I was a very aggressive boy.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Kind, Cows, Very, Sheep

I always tell young athletes the same thing, 'Wherever you go, whatever you do, what must your top priority be? Running.'

- Haile Gebrselassie

Young, Always, Same Thing, Wherever

At the moment I am a little bit politician, yes. I think that could be my next step. It is not because I want power, it is because of what I think I could do for the people.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Think, Next, I Think, Next Step

Why should I say I will retire in three or four years? You retire the very moment you utter those words.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Will, Very, Utter, Retire

This hand is not very active always, because it was in this hand that I carried my books. My carrying hand was always my strongest. Now I think my other hand has developed more muscles from signing all those autographs.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Always, Very, Carried, Carrying

I will always listen to my coaches. But first I listen to my body. If what they tell me suits my body, great. If my body doesn't feel good with what they say, then always my body comes first.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Will, Tell, Always, Coaches

You lose the speed before the stamina.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Lose, You, Before, Stamina

My school was six miles away from where I lived on the farm. I had to walk and run, there and back every day, through gorges and over rivers. If I was late, there was a very big stick waiting for me.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Big, Through, Very, Farm

I'm lucky. The best possible place in the world for training is Addis Ababa, so I am home all the time except when I am racing. I like to be there, near my family, my kids, also the real estate business I run with my wife.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Best, Racing, Lucky, Near

In my life I do a lot of things but I never forget my training.

- Haile Gebrselassie

My Life, Never, Lot, Never Forget

I can't change everything by myself but I can be one of the people who are trying to change the situation.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Change, Myself, Trying, Situation

Eradicate poverty. This is all that matters in my country. When I am out training I think about this a lot; when I am running it is going over in my mind. As a country we cannot move forward until we eradicate poverty.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Country, I Think, We Cannot, Move Forward

Some people start a sport just to reduce weight, or some say, 'My doctor ordered me to run and do exercise', and for others, they run for completely different benefits. But it is not like that with sport. We need to eat, we need to rest, but also we need to run.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Some, Benefits, Reduce, Some People

My father thought sport was something fun - he didn't know it was a way to make money. Then I won a Mercedes at the world championships and I gave it to him. From the moment it arrived my father said: 'Good, you can support not just yourself but me too'.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Father, Thought, Him, Mercedes

I have seen things few of my countrymen have. The first time I went on an aeroplane I couldn't work out how the lavatories worked up in the sky.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Work, Sky, Seen, Work Out

In the marathon a crazy athlete can just keep pushing from the beginning, at a championship you don't need a time just to win the race.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Beginning, Marathon, Race, Championship

You know, I want to help my country. Definitely I can help them, simply by winning races. Sure, they can follow my path to a good career. But for me it is not enough. I want to be more than that. In everything I want to be a role model.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Career, Country, Role, Model

You must do as your people do. If my people are poor, I must be poor. People ask me, 'Why don't you find a personal coach or a private car?' I can't. Then I won't be part of my people.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Why, Private, Part, Poor People

The more you are getting older, you lose a little something. Of course there is another advantage, because of your long experience you can use it.

- Haile Gebrselassie

More, Use, Advantage, Getting Older

I want to avoid injuries by running only road.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Road, Injuries, Running, Avoid

It is not my duty to spend my money in my country, but it is what I want to do. There is nowhere else I would like to invest.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Money, Country, Nowhere, Duty

Athletes have to be confident and I am thinking like that.

- Haile Gebrselassie

I Am, Confident, Like, Athletes

The marathon always starts after 30K. That's where the problems start. You start without any problems, without any pain. All the pain comes after 30K. Sometimes, it's possible to have pain even in the finger.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Pain, Marathon, Always, Finger

Always, if you win mentally, you can win physically as well.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Well, Always, Mentally, Physically

When I wake up at 5 in the morning is it just to jog? Definitely not, I give it all of my efforts.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Wake Up, Give, Jog, Definitely

Like some high official, you have to tell your brain: 'Do it. Come on. I have to do it.'

- Haile Gebrselassie

Some, High, Like, Official

You know for me when I promise something I want to deliver. If you don't, you have to disappear.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Me, Want, Know, Deliver

I haven't done a marathon for a long time. So we'll see. I will need good luck.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Luck, Good Luck, Marathon, Long Time

You need three things to win: discipline, hard work and, before everything maybe, commitment. No one will make it without those three. Sport teaches you that.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Need, Maybe, Before, Sport

If you're planning only to make money and nothing else, you'll be broke.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Money, Planning, Else, Broke

I'm never satisfied.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Never, Satisfied

I used to run to school, 10k every day. And this at altitude, perfect preparation, really.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Every Day, Run, Perfect, Altitude

I wanted to experience New York, to look up and see buildings.

- Haile Gebrselassie

New, See, Wanted, Buildings

Once you have commitment, you need the discipline and hard work to get you there.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Work, Need, Once, Hard

For me a day without training is like a day without eating.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Eating, Me, Like, Training

When you promise something, you must fulfill it.

- Haile Gebrselassie

You, Must, Fulfill, Promise

At the end of the day, people want to see how fast you run.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Want, See, How, Fast

I wanted to be famous. I wanted people to talk about me.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Me, Wanted, About, Famous

I love running and I will always run.

- Haile Gebrselassie

Love, Always, I Love, Running

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