Sileshi Sihine (Amharic: ስለሺ ስህኔ; born January 29, 1983 in Sheno) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.

Sihine 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 5000 m at the 2005 World Championships.

Career

Junior career

Sihine 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.

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

2004

Sihine 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

Sihine won a silver medal in the 10,000 metres, behind Bekele, and the silver medal in the 5000 metres at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

2006

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

2007

At the World Championships in Osaka, Sihine 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, Sihine 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.

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

2012

On 7 June, Sihine 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 Athletes’ Association.

Personal life

Sileshi Sihine 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: