Ethiopia boasts a wealthy legacy in athletics, significantly in long-distance operating, having produced world-renowned athletes who’ve dominated international competitions. On the helm of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, President Seleshi Sehen is dedicated to perpetuating this custom of excellence. His management is characterised by a concentrate on creating younger expertise, enhancing coaching services, and selling the game nationwide.
Beneath his steering, the federation goals to fortify Ethiopia’s standing within the athletics neighborhood, making certain that the following era of Ethiopian runners is well-equipped to hold the torch of nationwide delight and athletic achievement.
The federation continues to form the way forward for athletics in Ethiopia. With a dedication to nurturing expertise and selling sports activities in any respect ranges, Seleshi’s presidency marks a major chapter in Ethiopian athletics.
Seleshi Sehen has emerged as a distinguished determine inside the Ethiopian sports activities neighborhood. As president of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, he oversees the event and promotion of athletics in a rustic famend for its long-distance runners and wealthy sporting heritage. Beneath 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 delight amongst athletes. His dedication to showcasing Ethiopian tradition by athletics highlights the function of sports activities in constructing worldwide relationships and enhancing the nation’s international picture. Via 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 improvement in nurturing future champions. His insights replicate not solely a deep ardour for the game but additionally a strategic strategy to enhancing Ethiopia’s athletic legacy.
EH: How do you view the current success of Ethiopian athletes?
Seleshi Sehen: “The outstanding success of our athletes may be attributed to a number of key components. Firstly, we now have a wealthy custom of long-distance operating deeply ingrained in our tradition. Moreover, we now have invested considerably in coaching applications and services, making certain that our athletes obtain the absolute best help. The dedication and exhausting work of the athletes themselves, together with the steering of skilled coaches, have additionally performed a vital function.
Lastly, the sturdy sense of nationwide delight and the motivation to characterize Ethiopia on the worldwide stage drive our athletes to excel.”
EH: Are you able to elaborate on how athletics strengthens Ethiopia’s diplomacy?
Seleshi Sehen: “Athletics serves as a robust device for diplomacy. It fosters worldwide relationships and promotes peace by sportsmanship. Ethiopian athletes usually take part in international 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. Furthermore, 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 an important function in showcasing our cultural identification on the worldwide stage. Their performances should not solely about competitors; they embody our wealthy heritage, resilience, and communal spirit. Athletes usually 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 within the worldwide neighborhood. 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 within the international enviornment.”
EH: Not too long ago, Ethiopian athletes have achieved success in short-distance occasions. How do you interpret this development?
Seleshi Sehen: “Ethiopia has historically been acknowledged for its prowess in long-distance operating, however we have not too long ago witnessed outstanding success in short-distance occasions as properly. This shift may be attributed to focused coaching applications and the early identification of expertise. We’re specializing in creating versatile athletes able to competing throughout varied distances, and this strategy is starting to yield constructive outcomes on the worldwide stage.”
EH: What’s your opinion on Ethiopian athletes competing for different international locations?
Seleshi Sehen: “Concerning athletes of Ethiopian origin who select to characterize different international locations, we acknowledge the need of addressing this case proactively. Our federation is dedicated to establishing higher help programs for our athletes, together with enhanced coaching alternatives and monetary incentives. We purpose to foster a robust sense of nationwide delight and connection to Ethiopia, encouraging our proficient athletes to compete for his or her homeland.”
EH: What do you propose down the highway?
Seleshi Sehen: Making certain the continuity of Ethiopian athletics’ success is a high precedence for us. We’re actively specializing in nurturing the following era of athletes by grassroots applications and expertise identification initiatives. By investing in youth coaching camps and school-based athletics applications, we purpose to find and develop younger expertise early. Moreover, we’re working to supply mentorship from skilled athletes, fostering a tradition of excellence and dedication. Our aim is to construct a sustainable pipeline of expertise that may carry ahead our legacy in athletics.”
EH: What challenges have you ever confronted?
Join free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the newest in African information delivered straight to your inbox
Seleshi Sehen: “In my profession and inside the athletics federation, we face a number of challenges. Individually, balancing administrative duties with supporting athletes may be demanding. For the federation, we encounter points resembling restricted funding; infrastructure wants, together with tracks and stadiums, and the stress to persistently produce world-class athletes. Moreover, navigating the complexities of worldwide competitors and making certain our athletes are adequately ready stays a problem.
To handle these points, we want help from involved our bodies in varied kinds, together with monetary sources, improved coaching services, 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 next truth Seleshi’s management as president of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation has been instrumental in shaping the way forward for athletics in Ethiopia.
His dedication to fostering expertise and selling the nation’s wealthy sporting heritage underscores the significance of sturdy management within the improvement of athletics. As Ethiopia continues to provide world-class long-distance runners, Seleshi’s imaginative and prescient and dedication will undoubtedly play a vital function in sustaining and enhancing the nation’s legacy within the international athletics enviornment.
BY NAOL GIRMA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 15, July 2025
