Ethiopia boasts a wealthy legacy in athletics, notably in lengthy-distance working, having produced world-famend athletes who’ve dominated world competitions. At the helm of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, President Seleshi Sehen is dedicated to perpetuating this custom of excellence. His management is characterised by a give attention to growing younger expertise, enhancing coaching amenities, and selling the sport nationwide.
Under his steerage, the federation goals to fortify Ethiopia’s standing in the athletics group, making certain that the subsequent era of Ethiopian runners is nicely-geared up to hold the torch of nationwide satisfaction and athletic achievement.
The federation continues to form the future of athletics in Ethiopia. With a dedication to nurturing expertise and selling sports activities in any respect ranges, Seleshi’s presidency marks a big chapter in Ethiopian athletics.
Seleshi Sehen has emerged as a distinguished determine inside the Ethiopian sports activities group. As president of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, he oversees the growth and promotion of athletics in a rustic famend for its lengthy-distance runners and wealthy sporting heritage. Under his management, the federation has prioritized nurturing younger expertise and addressing the evolving challenges inside the sports activities panorama.
Seleshi’s imaginative and prescient encompasses enhancing coaching applications, enhancing infrastructure, and cultivating nationwide satisfaction amongst athletes. His dedication to showcasing Ethiopian tradition by way of athletics highlights the position of sports activities in constructing worldwide relationships and enhancing the nation’s world picture. Through interviews and public engagements, Seleshi continues to advocate for elevated help from varied stakeholders to maintain and develop Ethiopia’s legacy in athletics.
In an unique interview with The Ethiopian Herald (EH), Seleshi discusses his imaginative and prescient for the federation, the challenges athletes face, and the significance of grassroots growth in nurturing future champions. His insights replicate not solely a deep ardour for the sport but additionally a strategic method to enhancing Ethiopia’s athletic legacy.
EH: How do you view the current success of Ethiopian athletes?
Seleshi Sehen: “The exceptional success of our athletes will be attributed to a number of key components. Firstly, we now have a wealthy custom of lengthy-distance working deeply ingrained in our tradition. Additionally, we now have invested considerably in coaching applications and amenities, making certain that our athletes obtain the very best help. The dedication and laborious work of the athletes themselves, together with the steerage of skilled coaches, have additionally performed a vital position.
Finally, the sturdy sense of nationwide satisfaction and the motivation to signify Ethiopia on the world stage drive our athletes to excel.”
EH: Can you elaborate on how athletics strengthens Ethiopia’s diplomacy?
Seleshi Sehen: “Athletics serves as a strong instrument for diplomacy. It fosters worldwide relationships and promotes peace by way of sportsmanship. Ethiopian athletes typically take part in world competitions, which not solely spotlight our nation’s expertise but additionally showcase our tradition and values. Sporting occasions create alternatives for dialogue and collaboration with different international locations. Moreover, the achievements of our athletes improve Ethiopia’s picture overseas, serving to to construct goodwill and a constructive narrative that contributes to our diplomatic efforts.
Ethiopian athletes play a significant position in showcasing our cultural id on the worldwide stage. Their performances are usually not solely about competitors; they embody our wealthy heritage, resilience, and communal spirit. Athletes typically carry nationwide symbols and don conventional apparel throughout occasions, emphasizing our distinctive tradition.
By excelling in athletics, they assist foster a constructive picture of Ethiopia in the worldwide group. Their success tales resonate globally, cultivating admiration and respect for our nation, which not solely enhances our status but additionally opens doorways for cultural alternate and collaboration, reinforcing Ethiopia’s standing in the world area.”
EH: Recently, Ethiopian athletes have achieved success briefly-distance occasions. How do you interpret this pattern?
Seleshi Sehen: “Ethiopia has historically been acknowledged for its prowess in lengthy-distance working, however we have not too long ago witnessed exceptional success briefly-distance occasions as nicely. This shift will be attributed to focused coaching applications and the early identification of expertise. We are specializing in growing versatile athletes succesful of competing throughout varied distances, and this method is starting to yield constructive outcomes on the world stage.”
EH: What is your opinion on Ethiopian athletes competing for different international locations?
Seleshi Sehen: “Regarding athletes of Ethiopian origin who select to signify different international locations, we acknowledge the necessity of addressing this example proactively. Our federation is dedicated to establishing higher help methods for our athletes, together with enhanced coaching alternatives and monetary incentives. We intention to foster a robust sense of nationwide satisfaction and connection to Ethiopia, encouraging our gifted athletes to compete for his or her homeland.”
EH: What do you propose down the street?
Seleshi Sehen: Ensuring the continuity of Ethiopian athletics’ success is a high precedence for us. We are actively specializing in nurturing the subsequent era of athletes by way of grassroots applications and expertise identification initiatives. By investing in youth coaching camps and faculty-primarily based athletics applications, we intention to find and develop younger expertise early. Additionally, we’re working to supply mentorship from skilled athletes, fostering a tradition of excellence and dedication. Our objective is to construct a sustainable pipeline of expertise that may carry ahead our legacy in athletics.”
EH: What challenges have you ever confronted?
Seleshi Sehen: “In my profession and inside the athletics federation, we face a number of challenges. Individually, balancing administrative duties with supporting athletes will be demanding. For the federation, we encounter points similar to restricted funding; infrastructure wants, together with tracks and stadiums, and the stress to constantly produce world-class athletes. Additionally, navigating the complexities of worldwide competitors and making certain our athletes are adequately ready stays a problem.
To handle these points, we’d like help from involved our bodies in varied kinds, together with monetary assets, improved coaching amenities, and partnerships with worldwide organizations. Strengthening these areas will assist us overcome our challenges and proceed to construct on our successes in athletics.”
We wrap up the interview spotlighting the following reality Seleshi’s management as president of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation has been instrumental in shaping the future of athletics in Ethiopia.
His dedication to fostering expertise and selling the nation’s wealthy sporting heritage underscores the significance of sturdy management in the growth of athletics. As Ethiopia continues to supply world-class lengthy-distance runners, Seleshi’s imaginative and prescient and dedication will undoubtedly play a vital position in sustaining and enhancing the nation’s legacy in the world athletics area.
BY NAOL GIRMA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 15, July 2025