Ethiopian runner Jemal Yimer has revealed how Kenya’s iconic marathoner Eliud Kipchoge is his inspiration.

Apart from Kipchoge, the 27-year-old father of two also named Ethiopian greats Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie as inspirational figures in his career.

Inspiring Kipchoge

“Sometimes it’s (Eliud) Kipchoge, Gebrselassie, or Kenenisa (Bekele) – we see the life histories of strong athletes, their races. That is the backbone of me; it’s motivation for me,” Yimer told World Athletics.

Yimer has been one of the Ethiopian runners giving Kenyans a run for their money in international events.

He earned his first international vest over six years ago when he finished fourth at the African Championships in 10,000m. He finished in a similar position in 2017 during the World Cross Country Championships in Uganda.

By doing so, he helped his country win gold before going on to finish fifth in the 10,000m at the 2017 World Championships in London, clocking 26:56.11.

In his 2018 attempt, Yimer finished fourth again at the World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia, slightly missing the podium.

But in 2022, he was back in Valencia and performed extraordinarily, winning in a then Ethiopian half marathon record of 58:33.

Recently, Yimer changed coaches and decided to work with Getamesay Molla, a famous tactician who has worked with the country’s top runners.

Molla, who started his coaching career in 2010, was a good athlete and trained with Bekele during his active years.

“Jemal is a very strong athlete, and he’s versatile. He’s tough, especially for races. He’s confident in himself,” Molla, who began working with Yimer in 2019, said.

The coach is impressed by his student, “His consistency. Every session, he does not miss.”

Yimer’s seasons

Yimer had a superb performance when he made his debut in the Boston Marathon in 2021. He finished third in 2:10:38, just one second behind Lemi Berhanu in second.

He was back on the Boston course last year and finished eighth in 2:08:58, before claiming victory at the Los Angeles Marathon in 2:13:13 in 2023. At the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Northern Ireland in August, he finished second in 58:38.

As 2023 ends, Yimer has shifted his focus to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

“My goal is to run fast times, to run all the major marathons, and to win world and Olympic medals,” he concluded.

He is expected to battle with other top athletes during the upcoming New York Marathon.