Kenya and Ethiopia to Extend Their Decades-Long Running Rivalry at Paris Olympics

Although Kenya has won more Olympic medals in track and field — 106 to Ethiopia’s 58 — both countries will be vying to see who will leave Paris with the most Olympic medals this year.

Ethiopia’s Gebrselassie, considered one of the greatest runners to ever compete, has said Kenya and Ethiopia are in a “codependent” relationship. “I needed the Kenyans. They were my headache, and they were my strength,” he told World Athletics. “But without the Kenyans, I would not have become great.”

And there will be many greats to watch compete this year, such as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the current world record holder in the 1500m race going for her third Olympic title in her favorite distance. Kipyegon will be competing against Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, the 5000m world record holder who is looking to medal in three races in Paris.

Among the men, many will be looking to the likely final Olympics match-up between Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, who has held the world record over multiple distances, and Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who is looking to reclaim his marathon record and win his third consecutive Olympics gold in the event.

With just days to the Olympics, OkayAfrica previews some of the races in which these two running powerhouses will clash, showcasing greats who will be entering their final Olympics, legends who might be returning for one more shot, as well as young runners who will be making their Olympics debut and expanding this famous rivalry.

Women’s 800m

The 800m race is set to be a thrilling showdown between Kenya's Mary Moraa and Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma. Moraa has the edge, having won gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. On the other hand, Duguma, secured gold at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.

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Their biggest competition will come from Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson, who took silver previously at both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2023 World Championships. Fortunately for them, defending Olympic Champion Athing Mu will be absent.

Also representing Team Ethiopia: Worknesh Mesele and Habitam Alemu.

Also representing Team Kenya: Lilian Odira, who beat Moraa at the Kenya Olympic trials.

Men’s 800m

Although Ethiopia does not have any athletes in this event, Kenya will be sending 2023 World Championship silver medalist, and mile record holder, Emmanuel Wanyonyi. He will face tough competition from Canada’s Marco Arop, whose family hails from Sudan and who won gold at the 2023 World Championships

Also representing Kenya: Wycliffe Kinyamal.

Women’s 1500m

The 1500m race will feature a compelling clash between Kenya's Faith Kipyegon and Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay. Both athletes will compete in the 1500m and 5000m events, with Kipyegon reigning as the queen of the 1500m having recently broken the world record in June.

However, Tsegay's versatility cannot be discounted; she has won medals across multiple disciplines and holds the indoor world record in the 1500m.

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Nipping at their heels will be Dutch runner Sifan Hassan who will participate in four events at the Olympics: the 1500m, 5000m, 1000m and marathon. Sifan, who was born in Ethiopia, took third in this discipline at both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2023 World Championships. Another athlete to watch is Great Britain’s Laura Muir, who took silver behind Kipyegon in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Also representing Team Ethiopia: Diribe Welteji, who took silver at the 2023 World Championships, and Birke Haylom, who holds the U20 world record holder in the mile run, 5000m and indoor 1500m.

Also representing Team Kenya: Nelly Chepchirchir.

Men’s 1500m

In the men’s 1500m, Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot will be returning to defend the silver medal he earned at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Ethiopia will be sending their former indoor 1500m world record holder Samuel Tefera.

However, the favorites for this race are Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the defending Olympics champion and 2023 World Championship silver medalist, and Britain’s Josh Kerr, who took bronze at the last Olympics and gold at the 2023 World Championships.

Also representing Ethiopia: Abdisa Fayisa and Ermias Girma, who is the World Athletics U20 (under 20) champion in the 800m.

Also representing Kenya: Reynold Cheruiyot, the current world junior record holder in the mile run, and Kyumbe Munguti.

Women’s 5000m

Both Ethiopia’s Tsegayand Kenya’s Kipyegon will be challenging this race, though this time it is in a discipline that Tsegay dominates. Tsegay holds the current world record in this distance, a title she took from Kipyegon. However, Kipyegon secured gold at the 2023 World Championships.

Another one to watch is Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, the current 10000m world record holder, who took third at the 2023 World Championship. All three will be chasing the Netherlands’ Hassan, who will be looking to defend her Olympics win from the Tokyo Olympics.

Also representing Team Ethiopia: Ejgayehu Taye, the current world record holder in the 5000m road race, and Medina Eisa, a young runner who won the gold medal in the 5000m at the 2022 World U20.

Men’s 5000m

Ethiopia brings a strong team to the 5000m, with former record holders leading the charge. Hagos Gebrhiwet, who won bronze in this distance in the 2016 Rio Olympics, and Yomif Kejelcha, the world indoor record holder for the mile, are set to compete. However, it is Kenya’s Jacob Krop who is most likely to medal, having won bronze at the 2023 World Championship.

In recent years, this distance has been dominated by defending champion and double world record holder — Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei. Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the 2023 World Championship gold medalist is also one to watch in this highly anticipated race.

Also representing Ethiopia: Addisu Yihune.

Also representing Kenya: Ronald Kwemoi and Edwin Kurgat.

Women’s 10000m

Between the two countries, Ethiopia looks the most likely to beat Kenya in distance. Tsegay, if not too tired from her other events, will be competing for Ethiopia. Notably absent is her compatriot Letesenbet Gidey, the former 10000m world record holder, who is not attending the Olympics.

However, it is the Netherlands’ Hassan who will be defending her Olympic title in this distance.

Also representing Team Ethiopia: Fotyen Tesfay and Tsigie Gebreselama.

Men’s 10000m

Double world record holder, Cheptegeiis the favorite to win the 10000m race. However, he will face fierce competition from Ethiopia's Selemon Barega, the defending Olympic champion who bested Cheptegei in this distance at the Tokyo Olympics.

Adding to the challenge, the other Ethiopian and Kenyan runners are also poised to make their mark, ensuring a highly competitive and thrilling race.

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Also representing Ethiopia: Kejelcha and Berihu Aregawi, the world record holder for the 5000m road race.

Also representing Kenya: Daniel Mateiko, Benard Kibet and Nicholas Kipkorir.

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase

The 3000m steeplechase world record holder, Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech, is the favorite to win the technical race as she chases her first Olympic medal, whilst Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew, the silver medalist at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championship is looking to make her mark in her first Olympics.

But all eyes will be on Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai, who will be defending her Olympic champion title.

Also representing Team Ethiopia: Lomi Muleta.

Also representing Team Kenya: Faith Cherotich, who secured third place at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, and Jackline Chepkoech, a former world U20 champion.

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase

The steeplechase is a race that Kenya has dominated for decades until recent years. In Paris, Ethiopia is the favorite to win this race, led by the 3000m steeplechase world record holder Lamecha Girma.

Kenya is sending a crop of young athletes — Amos Serem and Simon Koech — who will be running in their first Olympics.

Also representing Team Ethiopia: Getnet Wale, a Tokyo Olympian and Samuel Firewu.

Also representing Team Kenya: Abraham Kibiwott.

Women’s Marathon

One of the most anticipated races of the Olympic athletic schedule is the women's marathon, featuring a field so stacked from both Ethiopia and Kenya, that the favorite is not clear.

Representing Ethiopia, is the world record holder, Tigst Assefa, and the 2023 World Athletics Championship winner, Amane Beriso Shankule. From Kenya, we have the Tokyo Olympics defending gold and silver medalists, Peres Jepchirchir and Brigid Kosgei, respectively.

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Also representing Team Ethiopia: Alemu Megertu.

Also representing Team Kenya: Hellen Obiri, a two-time Olympics 5000m silver medallist from the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Men’s Marathon

The men’s marathon is always an exciting race between these two countries, but the stakes are especially high for two runners who have competed against each other for over a decade in multiple distances — Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, who at age 42, is likely running in his final Olympics, and Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who is looking to win his third straight Olympics title in the marathon and reclaim his world record time.

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Missing from this year’s Olympic Games is Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum, who shattered the world record in the men's marathon in 2023 and sadly passed away in a car crash earlier this year.

Also representing Ethiopia: Sisay Lemma, and Deresa Geleta.

20km walk

A growing sport in both countries, Ethiopians and Kenyans are seeing an interest and rise in racewalking. Ethiopia’s Wakuma Misgana, 20, has already won every possible 20km walking championship within Africa and is now looking to medal at his first Olympic Games. Right behind him is Kenya’s Samuel Gathimba, who won silver — behind Misgana — at the All Africa Games this year. These two men are the sole racewalkers from both countries at the Olympics.