Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Friday: August 12th, 2016
New York (TADIAS) — 24-year-old Almaz Ayana won Ethiopia’s first gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Friday breaking the world record in the women’s 10,000m.
“2015 world champion Vivian Cheruiyot finished more than 15 seconds after Ayana to earn the silver medal,” NBC Olympics reports. “Tirunesh Dibaba, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champion, claimed the bronze medal.”
Following in the historic footsteps of Tirunesh Dibaba, Almaz is aiming to score a double victory in the 10000m and 5000m, and is on her way to writing her own Olympic history. She finished the race in Rio on Friday in a new world record time of 29 minutes, 17.45 seconds.
Almaz Ayana shattered the 10,000m world record in 29 minutes, 17.45 seconds at the 2016 Rio Olympic on Friday, August 12th, 2016. (AP photo)
Per NBC: “The women’s 10,000m was the first track and field medal event at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Dibaba’s younger sister, Genzebe, will race in the first round of the women’s 1500m tonight. The men’s 10,000m final will be held Saturday night.”