Bekoji is a small town in southern Ethiopia that's home to some of the world's most successful long-distance runners.
Town of champions —
Bekoji is a small town in southern Ethiopia that's home to some of the world's most successful long-distance runners.
CNN
Sentayehu Eshetu, or "Coach," has discovered and nurtured the talents of several runners from Bekoji, including four Olympic gold medalists.
Town of champions —
Sentayehu Eshetu, or "Coach," has discovered and nurtured the talents of several runners from Bekoji, including four Olympic gold medalists.
CNN
Amongst them is three-time Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba. Here, the Bekoji-born runner celebrates winning gold in the 10,000 meters at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Town of champions —
Amongst them is three-time Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba. Here, the Bekoji-born runner celebrates winning gold in the 10,000 meters at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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"He used to tell me that I would be a great runner," says Dibaba of Eshetu, her first coach. "He knew I would be a fast runner, that's why he started coaching me."
Town of champions —
"He used to tell me that I would be a great runner," says Dibaba of Eshetu, her first coach. "He knew I would be a fast runner, that's why he started coaching me."
CNN
Set at about 2,800 meters above sea level, the town's runners benefit from training at high altitude.
Town of champions —
Set at about 2,800 meters above sea level, the town's runners benefit from training at high altitude.
CNN
"The air is very thin up here," says Eshetu. "If you can train in this difficult air, your body adapts to it. The adaptation makes it easy when you go to a lower altitude. You can run freely in the air elsewhere. This makes a massive contribution to the success of our runners, because from their childhood they have been training in this air."
Town of champions —
"The air is very thin up here," says Eshetu. "If you can train in this difficult air, your body adapts to it. The adaptation makes it easy when you go to a lower altitude. You can run freely in the air elsewhere. This makes a massive contribution to the success of our runners, because from their childhood they have been training in this air."
CNN
But the majority of Bekoji's young athletes face many difficulties in their bid for success -- sporting equipment does not come cheap, while most have no more than two meals a day.
Town of champions —
But the majority of Bekoji's young athletes face many difficulties in their bid for success -- sporting equipment does not come cheap, while most have no more than two meals a day.
CNN
"Here athletes have difficulty with getting regular food, with owning shoes, they face a lot of problems," says Eshetu. "They have to sew their shoes, manage with little food, work long and hard, but I believe this allows them to become stronger and successful."
Town of champions —
"Here athletes have difficulty with getting regular food, with owning shoes, they face a lot of problems," says Eshetu. "They have to sew their shoes, manage with little food, work long and hard, but I believe this allows them to become stronger and successful."
CNN
In his small office in Bekoji, Eshetu has kept a record of his runners since he first began training them some 25 years ago. The weight, height and fastest time of all of his prodigies are hand-written here, year by year, so he can keep track of their progress.
Town of champions —
In his small office in Bekoji, Eshetu has kept a record of his runners since he first began training them some 25 years ago. The weight, height and fastest time of all of his prodigies are hand-written here, year by year, so he can keep track of their progress.
CNN
Kenenisa Bekele, who was also coached by Eshetu, is now the world record holder in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. Here, he celebrates winning the gold medal in the 5,000 meters final at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany, in 2009.
Town of champions —
Kenenisa Bekele, who was also coached by Eshetu, is now the world record holder in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. Here, he celebrates winning the gold medal in the 5,000 meters final at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany, in 2009.
Mark Dadswell/Getty Images/file