Almaz Ayana

thumb Almaz Ayana Eba (born 21 November 1991) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. She won the gold medal in the 10,000 metres and bronze in the 5,000 metres at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Almaz is a four-time World Athletics Championships medallist earning a bronze for the 5,000m in 2013, gold at the event in 2015 as well as gold in the 10,000m and silver in the 5,000m in 2017. Quotes My plan was just to win, I only saw the record after I finished. I was comfortable with the pace, I had prepared well for this. I’m not naturally gifted with speed so I concentrated on endurance, My plan was to move slowly from 5000m to 10,000m, but I didn’t want to move up too early. Record run in Rio just the start for Ayana, WORLD OLYMPICS, August 16 2013 I am ready to break the world record tomorrow, I will need a pace of between 67 and 68 seconds (per lap); that would be perfect. My only fear is about the weather. If it is too warm it will be difficult. But it will be easier with Genzebe in the race because it is always hard to fight alone. Tomorrow we will try together. My only goal is to be in the lead and to go fast, I prefer to lead and always go to the front of the pack. That’s how I want to run tomorrow. It’s not a championship where we are running for our country; it is an individual race where we are running for ourselves, and so I will run with my own tactics and stick with the way I like to run. I want to break the world record in Paris because it is a special place for me, It was in Paris where I decided to switch events two years ago. It was here that I first thought I had real potential. My husband said one day I should try it at least once, and the result was very good. I was second in the Diamond League in Paris so I said, ‘OK, I will run the 5000m now.’ It wasn’t a decision, it was an accident. Ayana: ‘I’m ready for the world record’ – IAAF Diamond League, July 03 2015 I was a bit anxious. It was very fast from the beginning,The result happened like I expected it would. I was very shocked, I was really upset. Why? Because I didn’t think I would lose. There might be young athletes who look at me as a role model,When I was young, in the countryside, there were famous athletes who were competing. This kind of athlete is important. There has been a big difference [since Rio], with the [Ethiopian] people, with my lifestyle and with my training. It’s been different in everything. Rio gave me a big morale, but I plan to achieve even more than I have so far. The Perfect Ten, March 28 2017 External links Category:Sportspeople from Ethiopia Category:Track and field athletes Category:Olympic gold medalists Category:Living people Category:Women from Ethiopia Category:Women in sports Category:1991 births Category:Women born in the 1990s