HAILE Gebrselassie, the Ethiopian who is regarded as one of the greatest distance runners in history, has had to shelve his plans to bid farewell to the sport at this weekend's Great Scottish Run in Glasgow. The 42-year-old had been due to take part in the 10k event this Sunday but his eldest sister is seriously ill and he wishes to be at her side with other family members over the coming days.
Gebrselassie, twice an Olympic champion in the 10,000m and four times an outdoor World Champion, has broken 27 world records in an illustrious career which has spanned two decades. Although some of his records have since been surpassed, notably on the track by his compatriot Kenenisa Bekele, Gebrselassie remains the world record holder at 20,000m and the one hour race.
“I am sorry not be able to come to Glasgow but I must be with my sister now," said Gebrselassie, the winner of the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run half marathon in 2013. "I hope people will understand and I promise to come back soon.”
Brendan Foster, chairman of event organisers The Great Run Company, said: “Our thoughts are with Haile’s sister and the family. Of course we understand that Haile needs to be with them in Addis Ababa now.”
Gebrselassie, who announced his intention to retire five years ago after injury problems then returned to racing months later, had also indicated his imminent retirement following the Great Manchester Run during the summer. In addition to his feats on the track, he is also a successful businessman in Ethiopia, employing thousands of his compatriots in real estate and the local coffee industry. "I'm retiring from competitive running, not from running," he said recently. "I cannot stop running, this is my life."
Despite Gebrselassie's absence, there remains a world class field for the elite event, with the women's half marathon field headed up by two-time world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat. The Kenyan will endeavour to retain her title in a field which also includes Britain's Gemma Steel and Jo Pavey, the 42-year-old mother-of-two who now has her sights set on participating for Great Britain in Rio. Kiplagat's countryman Dennis Kimetto, the marathon world record-holder, heads up the men's field, while the first Scot home last year, Callum Hawkins, aims to repeat that achievement. Thousands of amateurs and fun runners will also take part in the events.
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