Feyisa Lilesa

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Born
1990 (35 years old)

Birth Place
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Position
Long Distance Runner

Status
Active

Ethnicity
Black

Team Number

Height

Outfitter

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Agent

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Sport

Athletics

Team
Ethiopia Athletics

2nd Team

League
Olympics Athletics

Creative Commons Artwork
Yes

Latest Results

					Mens Marathon Final	21 Aug 16

Description

Feyisa Lilesa (Afaan Oromo: Fayyisaa Leellisaa; born 1 February 1990) is an Oromo long-distance runner from Ethiopia. He became the youngest man to run under 2:06 when he ran 2:05:23 in the men's marathon at the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon. He set his personal best of 2:04:52 in the marathon when he came in second place at the 2012 Chicago Marathon.
Feyisa Lilesa during 2013 London Marathon

He won the Dublin Marathon in 2009 in his debut race and then won the Xiamen International Marathon in 2010. He was the bronze medalist at the 2011 World Championships marathon and the silver medalist in the 2016 Rio Olympics marathon. On the final day of the 2016 Rio Olympics (21 August), as he was crossing the finish line of the Men's Marathon and winning his silver medal, he raised his arms in a gesture of solidarity with protestors against the killing of the Oromo people in his home country of Ethiopia. Citing fear for his life if he returned to Ethiopia, he said in a press conference following the race that he would, "try and move to another country." One of the countries he mentioned was the U.S. and the State Department was asked about this possibility.

After the resignation of Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in March 2018, his successor Abiy Ahmed encouraged him to return home to his country in October 2018, ending his two year exile.