Ethiopian · Bekoji, Ethiopia · Born 1 August 1997World 10000m silver medallist, indoor mile world record holder.
Yomif Kejelcha Atomsa was born on 1 August 1997 in Showa, Oromia, Ethiopia, and grew up on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, building his aerobic base through group training from an early age before winning gold in the 5000m at the 2014 World Junior Championships. Kejelcha set the world indoor mile record of 3:47.01 at the Bruce Lehane Invitational in Boston in 2019, breaking a mark that Hicham El Guerrouj had held for 22 years, and won silver in the 10,000m at the 2019 World Championships. Kejelcha transitioned from middle-distance and track events to marathon running, and became just the second person in history to break two hours for the marathon under race conditions, running 1:59:41 at the 2026 London Marathon in what was his very first attempt at the distance. Kejelcha has continued to compete across an unusually broad range of events from the mile to the marathon, training with the Oromia Construction & Engineering Corporation Athletics Club, and remains one of the most versatile distance runners in the sport's history.
Distance (5,000m)
How They Played
Tactical runner with strong finishing kick and ability to excel in both 1500m and 3000m events
Lasting Impact
One of Ethiopia's premier middle-distance runners of the 2020s
Career Honours
- World 10000m silver 2019,2025
- World Indoor 3000m champ 2016,2018
- indoor mile WR 2019
Ethiopian Athletes