FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DUBAI MARATHON ON 12th JANUARY:
The second coming of Lelisa in Dubai?
Former world champion Lelisa Desisa is returning to the Dubai Marathon,
scene of his debut triumph, hoping that the second coming on 12th January
will bring him as much success as the first. Desisa's sprint to victory in
Dubai 2013 with four pursuers strung out closely behind him was the first
time five men had gone under 2hr 5mins for a marathon anywhere. With
2.04.45, one of the fastest debuts in history the 22 year old Desisa
underlined his new elite status by winning Boston barely three months
later, and finishing second in the world championships in Moscow in the
summer.
The Ethiopian endeared himself to the Boston public that year of the
bombing tragedy by returning to the city two months after the event,
dedicating his victory to the victims, and presenting his framed medal to
the mayor in a much lauded public ceremony. He endorsed his status as a
favourite adopted son by winning Boston again in 2015, then finishing
second the following year. He may not be as famous as some, but his record
after that suggests he had a good case to be considered male marathoner of
the decade – he won in New York in 2018, after a second and third in
earlier years; all of which led up to his apotheosis as IAAF world champion
in the torrid midnight heat of Doha 2019.
Then came the pandemic, a respite after the efforts of the previous six
years; and an opportunity to spend time with his young family and start a
business back in Ethiopia. According to his manager Hussein Makke, he is
now raring to go again. "Desisa took time off to start his business and put
staff in place, to ensure if you like his post-racing career," said Makke.
"He and his wife also welcomed two children. But he is well rested and he
told me he is far from finished in competitive running. He's back to full
force training and looking to return to podiums in 2025."
"It's great to have such an illustrious winner back," said Dubai race
director Peter Connerton this week. "Although we've had all-time greats
like Haile Gebrselassie here in the past, current Olympic champion Tamirat
Tola, and women's world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, all winning in fast
times, we've also built up a reputation as a race for debutants; and Lelisa
and others have certainly proved that point."
"We suffered with the pandemic, as did all marathons worldwide, but we're
getting back to pre-pandemic interest and entry levels, and looking to make
Dubai 2025 the best ever."
For more information please visit www.dubaimarathon.org.
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