Sileshi Sihine

Sileshi Sihine (Amharic: ስለሺ ስህኔ; born 29 January 1983) is an Ethiopian retired long-distance runner. He is currently the president of the Ethiopian Athletic Federation since 2024, holding the title twice after serving from 2015 to 2016.

Sileshi won silver medals in the 10,000 metres at both the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as at the 2005 World Championships and 2007 World Championships as well as a bronze medal in 2003. He also picked up a silver medal in the 5,000 m event at the 2005 World Championships.

Career Junior career Sileshi began running at school, inspired by the achievements of compatriot Haile Gebrselassie.

After success at the junior level, he emerged as a leading senior athlete.

2002-2003 In cross country, he won the Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños in 2002 and 2003.

Sileshi was one of three Ethiopians, along with Kenenisa Bekele and Gebrselassie, who swept the 10,000 metres gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2003 World Championships in Paris. Sihine then won the 10,000 metres at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games.

2004 Sileshi won a bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships. He also won a silver medal in the 10,000 metres at the Summer Olympic Gamess in Athens, behind Bekele.

2005 Sileshi won a silver medal in the 10,000 metres, behind Bekele, and the silver medal in the 5,000 metres at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

2006 At the World Cross Country Championships, Sileshi finished second behind Bekele.

2007 At the World Championships in Osaka, Sileshi took the silver medal in the 10,000 metres, again finishing behind Bekele.

2008 He yet again took a silver medal in the 10,000 metres behind Bekele at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

2011 In May, Sileshi finished fifth in the 5000 metres at the Samsung DL Golden Gala in Rome, Italy.

Nine days later at the Prefontaine Classic 10,000 metres in Eugene, Oregon, he finished in sixth place, 6.27 seconds behind winner Mohamed Farah.

Sileshi attempted his first marathon race at the Amsterdam Marathon, but dropped out after 36 kilometres.

2012 On 7 June, Sileshi finished seventh in the 5000 metres at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway. Two weeks later at a 10 kilometre road race in Birmingham, U.K., Sihine finished fourth, just 1.06 seconds behind Bekele, the winner.

2015 In February, he was elected president of the newly formed Ethiopian Athletics Association.

2024 On 22 December 2024, he was reelected as the Ethiopian Athletics Association, succeeding Derartu Tulu, at 28th General Assembly of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation. Tulu's replacement was due to heavy backlash at the federation during the 2024 Paris Olympic.

Personal life In 2008, Sileshi is married to three-time Olympic champion athlete Tirunesh Dibaba. Their wedding was broadcast live on national television.

Achievements

Personal bests The following are his personal bests:

Surface Event Time (m:s) Venue Date Outdoortrack 3000 metres 7:29.92 Rieti, Italy 28 August 2005 5000 metres 12:47.04 Rome, Italy 2 July 2004 10,000 metres 26:39.69 Hengelo, Netherlands 31 May 2004 Road 10 kilometres 27:56 Nijmegen, Netherlands 21 November 2004 15 kilometres 41:38 Nijmegen, Netherlands 21 November 2004 20 kilometres 58:09 Edmonton, Canada 1 October 2005 Half marathon 1:01:14 Edmonton, Canada 1 October 2005 Indoor 3000 metres 7;41.18 Stuttgart, Germany 31 January 2004 Two miles 8:27.03 Boston, U.S. 28 January 2006 5000 metres 13:06.72 Stockholm, Sweden 2 February 2006