Getnet Wale

Getnet Wale Bayabl (born 16 July 2000) is an Ethiopian runner specialising in the 3,000 metres steeplechase. He finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well as at the 2019 and 2022 World Athletics Championships. Wale won the silver medal at the 2019 African Games and a bronze at the 2018 African Championships in Athletics.

He earned bronze medals at the 2016 and 2018 World Under-20 Championships. In 2019, he became the Diamond League 3,000 m steeplechase champion. Wale is the current Ethiopian record holder in the indoor 3,000 metres.

Early life Getnet Wale was born one of eight children in Sekele, Ethiopia. He ran 4 km to and from school. After he won provincial 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres titles aged 13, steeplechase coach Teshome Kebede was interested in him and invited Wale to Addis Ababa.

Early running career Wale's first international competition came at the 2016 IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Despite falling twice at the water jump he earned the bronze medal in the 3000 m steeplechase by placing third in 8:22.83. On 11 April, he won the Ethiopian Championships over the 5,000 metres. On 19 May, Wale won the 3,000 m steeplechase at the 60th Ostrava Golden Spike in 8:09.47. At the Ethiopian Trials on 8 June in Hengelo, Netherlands, he won the 5,000 m with a time of 12:53.28. Wale was named for the Ethiopian Olympic Team in the 5,000 m for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he was eliminated in the heats.

International competitions

Circuit wins and titles

3,000 metres steeplechase wins, other events specified in parentheses 2019: Rabat Meeting , Brussels Memorial Van Damme

National championships Ethiopian Athletics Championships 3,000 metres steeplechase: 2018, 2019 5,000 metres: 2021

Personal bests 1,500 metres indoor – 3:35.54 (Val-de-Reuil 2021) 2,000 metres – 4:58.26 (Bydgoszcz 2020) 3,000 metres indoor – 7:24.98 (Liévin 2021) 5,000 metres – 12:53.28 (Hengelo 2021) 3,000 metres steeplechase – 8:05.21 (Doha 2019)