Belayneh Densamo (born 28 June 1965) is an Ethiopian former long-distance runner, and a long-period world record holder for the marathon discipline. He held the world record for 10 years (1988-1998).
Early life
Belayneh was born in Diramo Afarrara in Sidamo, the southernmost province, and began first competing professionally at national level.
Career
Densamo broke the world record by 22 seconds with a time of 2:06:50 at the 1988 Rotterdam Marathon, following three previous wins at major marathons 1986–1987. This record lasted the third-longest span ever recorded (and since the event was first professionally organized at the 1896 Olympics).
- Last victories
Densamo won two major international marathons in 1989 and in 1990. He was not among the three Ethiopian men who entered the marathon in the 1992 Summer Olympics. He represented Ethiopia at the marathon at the 1996 Summer Olympics, as the world record holder in the relatively humid summer Atlanta, Georgia conditions and was among 13 of a field of 130 who did not finish. Densamo's world record fell to Ronaldo da Costa at the Berlin Marathon in 1998.
As of 2009, Belayneh lives in the area of Cambridge, Massachusetts and has retired from international competition.
Achievements
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Ethiopia
| ||||
| 1986 | Tokyo Marathon | Tokyo, Japan | 2nd | 2:08:29 |
| 1986 | Rotterdam Marathon | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 2nd | 2:09:09 |
| 1986 | Moscow Marathon | Moscow, Russia | 1st | 2:14:42 |
| 1987 | All-Africa Games | Nairobi, Kenya | 1st | 2:14:47 |
| 1987 | Rotterdam Marathon | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 1st | 2:12:58 |
| 1988 | Rotterdam Marathon | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 1st | 2:06:50 |
| 1988 | Fukuoka Marathon | Fukuoka, Japan | 2nd | 2:11:09 |
| 1989 | Rotterdam Marathon | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 1st | 2:08:39 |
| 1990 | Tokyo Marathon | Tokyo, Japan | 3rd | 2:11:32 |
| 1990 | Fukuoka Marathon | Fukuoka, Japan | 1st | 2:11:35 |
| 1991 | Rotterdam Marathon | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 5th | 2:11:34 |
| 1993 | Beijing Marathon | Beijing, China | 3rd | 2:12:11 |
| 1996 | Marrakech Marathon | Marrakech, Morocco | 3rd | 2:12:27 |
| 1996 | Rotterdam Marathon | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 1st | 2:10:30 |
References
- Belayneh Densamo Archived 2014-10-21 at the Wayback Machine. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2 February 2015.
- "Tanzanian Wins Tokyo Marathon". Los Angeles Times. 10 February 1986. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
External links
| Records | ||
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Preceded by Carlos Lopes
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Men's Marathon World Record Holder 17 April 1988 – 20 September 1998 |
Succeeded by Ronaldo da Costa
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| African Games champions in men's road running | |
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- 1965 births
- Living people
- Ethiopian male long-distance runners
- Ethiopian male marathon runners
- Olympic athletes for Ethiopia
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- World record setters in athletics (track and field)
- African Games gold medalists for Ethiopia
- African Games medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Goodwill Games medalists in athletics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1987 All-Africa Games
- Competitors at the 1986 Goodwill Games
- Olympic male marathon runners
- 20th-century Ethiopian people
- Ethiopian athletics biography stubs