| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
| Olympic Games | ||||
| 3 | 10,000m | 2004 | Athens, GRE | 27:22.57 |
| 5 | 10,000m | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 27:05.11 |
| 7 | 5000m | 2004 | Athens, GRE | 13:24.31 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 2 | 10,000m | 2009 | Berlin, GER | 26:50.12 |
| 4 | 10,000m | 2011 | Daegu, KOR | 27:22.57 |
| World Cross Country Championships | ||||
| 3 | Individual Cross Country Long Distance | 2009 | Amman, JOR | 35:04 |
| 3 | Team Cross Country Long Distance | 2009 | Amman, JOR | 50 |
| World Half Marathon Championships | ||||
| 1 | Half Marathon | 2009 | Birmingham, GBR | 59:35 |
| 1 | Half Marathon | 2008 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 59:56 |
| 2 | Half Marathon | 2010 | Nanning, CHN | 1:00:11 |
| London Marathon | ||||
| 7 | Marathon | 2010 | London, GBR | 2:12:03 |
Occupation
Athlete
Family
Wife Merhawit
Language(s) spoken
English
Coach
Jeronimo Bravo (ESP) (iaaf.org, 01 Sep 2011)
Other sports
His younger brother, Kidane Tadesse, also represents Eritrea in long distance running events. (IAAF, 27 Nov 2007)
Debut
2004 for Eritrea, Olympic Games (Athens) (in.reuters.com, 27 May 2009)
Additional information
Start of sporting career
He developed an aptitude for running as a youngster when he had to run to and from school each day, a round-trip distance he estimates to be around 32km. But he didnt start training seriously until 2001. (coolrunning.com, 07 Mar 2006)
Reason for taking up this sport
Originally a cyclist, he fell out with his teammates and switched to running instead. (in.reuters.com, 27 May 2009)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Bringing home Eritrea's first ever Olympic medal with a bronze at Athens 2004. (in.reuters.com, 27 May 2009)
General
SHOE SIZE
Just a few months after taking up running seriously, he was showing so much promise that he was entered in the 2002 World Cross Country Championships in Dublin. He was given a pair of shoes to run in, and despite them being several sizes too big, went on to finish 30th in the 12km race. (coolrunning.com 07 Mar 2006)
NATIONAL ICON
Given the minute size of Eritrea, he is a well-known celebrity in his home country after winning the nation's first ever Olympic medal, and has even been called the ‘David Beckham' of Eritrea because of his popularity. His wedding to Merhawit Soloman in 2008 was attended by 2500 guests and broadcast live on Eritrean TV. He is also the highest paid athlete in Eritrea, according to ESPN.
(in.reuters.com, 27 May 2009; madote.com, 08 Aug 2011; iaaf.org, 11 Oct 2009)
EARLY DAYS
He had a relatively trouble-free childhood despite growing up in conflicted Eritrea. He lived away from the capital, Asmara, and was barely affected by the fighting. But it wasn't a life of luxury, with a round-trip distance of 32km to school each day. "For about two years, I would run from my house to school every morning. Coming home, I would normally walk, though sometimes too I would run the full 14 km back. Many of us runners come from these backgrounds. It is basically the lifestyle. If you say to yourself you can do something, you have the strength and will to do it."
(iaaf.org, 14 Oct 2010; in.reuters.com, 27 May 2009; coolrunning.com 07 Mar 2006)
Previous Olympics
Beijing 2008, Athens 2004
