1. Overview
Berihu Aregawi Teklehaimanot (በሪሁ ኣረጋዊBerihu AregawiTigrinya; born February 28, 2001) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. He holds the world record in the 5 km road race and the Ethiopian national record in the 3000 metres and 10 km road race. Aregawi achieved significant success in his career, including winning a silver medal in the men's 10,000 metres at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He also secured a silver medal at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships. His junior career also saw success, including a bronze medal at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships.
2. Early life
Berihu Aregawi Teklehaimanot was born on February 28, 2001, in Atsbi Wenberta, Tigray, Ethiopia.
3. Career
Berihu Aregawi's athletic career began in his junior years, quickly establishing him as a prominent long-distance runner. He transitioned to the senior circuit with breakthrough performances, setting world records and achieving significant Olympic and championship medals.
3.1. Junior career
Aregawi's junior career showcased his early potential. In 2018, at the age of 17, he participated in multiple major competitions. At the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, he earned a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres event, finishing behind Rhonex Kipruto and Jacob Kiplimo with a time of 27:48.41.
The same year, he won a gold medal in the 3000 metres race at the Athletics at the 2018 African Youth Games held in Algiers, Algeria, clocking 7:50.98. Following this, he competed at the Athletics at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he secured a silver medal in the combined 3000 metres event, accumulating 4 points. In November 2019, Aregawi won the Great Ethiopian Run, a 10 kilometres road race.
3.2. Senior career
Berihu Aregawi's senior career has been marked by consistent improvements, world-leading performances, and major international medals.
3.2.1. 2021: Breakthrough and world record
The year 2021 was a breakthrough for Aregawi. On June 8, he finished third in the Ethiopian trial for the 2020 Summer Olympics 10,000 metres, behind Selemon Barega and Yomif Kejelcha, which effectively secured his place at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In his Olympic debut, Aregawi placed fourth in the 10,000 metres race with a time of 27:46.16, just missing a medal as Barega took gold.
Later that year, on December 31, Aregawi made history by setting a new world record in the 5 km run. He achieved this feat at the Cursa dels Nassos 5K in Barcelona, Spain, clocking an impressive 12:49. This time improved upon the previous mark held by Joshua Cheptegei by 2 seconds and gave Aregawi a significant 38-second margin of victory over the next competitor.
3.2.2. 2022: Continued development
In 2022, Aregawi continued to compete at the highest level. At the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, he participated in the 3000 metres event but was eliminated in the heats, recording a time of 7:58.59. During the outdoor season, he competed at the 2022 World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, OR, United States. He finished seventh in the 10,000 metres race with a time of 27:31.00.
3.2.3. 2023: World Cross Country silver and records
The year 2023 was highly successful for Berihu Aregawi. In February, he won a silver medal at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia. He completed the 10 km course in 29:26, finishing second to Jacob Kiplimo, who won in 29:17. Aregawi also contributed to the Ethiopian team's silver medal finish in the senior men's team event, with a score of 32 points.
On March 11, in Laredo, Spain, Aregawi ran an exceptional 10 km road race, clocking 26:33. This time set a new Ethiopian national record and was the second-fastest 10 km time in history, only nine seconds shy of Rhonex Kipruto's then-world record. In June, he competed in the Diamond League event in Lausanne, where he won the 5000 metres race with a time of 12:40.45. This performance made him the fifth-fastest track 5000 metres runner in history. Later in the year, at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, he placed fourth in the 10,000 metres with a time of 27:55.71 and eighth in the 5000 metres with a time of 13:12.99.
3.2.4. 2024: Olympic silver and further records
Aregawi's strong performances continued into 2024. In January, he won the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza, a prestigious World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting. In March, he secured another silver medal at the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia, in the senior race, and also contributed to a team bronze medal. In May, he finished second at the LA Grand Prix, meeting the qualification standard for the 5000 metres at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Aregawi clinched a silver medal in the men's 10,000 metres, completing the race in 26:43.44. He finished just behind Joshua Cheptegei, who set a new Olympic record of 26:43.14. Following the Olympics, at the 2024 Silesia Diamond League, Aregawi competed in the 3000 metres. He ran a time of 7:21.28, setting a new Ethiopian national record for the event. This time also established him as the third-fastest 3000 metre runner in history, trailing only Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who set a new world record of 7:17.55 in the same race, and Daniel Komen, who held the previous world record of 7:20.67.
3.2.5. 2025: Recent activities
In January 2025, Berihu Aregawi successfully defended his title at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza in Elgoibar, demonstrating his continued dominance in cross country running.
4. Achievements and records
Berihu Aregawi has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including multiple international medals, world and national records, and circuit wins.
4.1. International competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | World U20 Championships | Tampere, Finland | 3rd | 10,000 m | 27:48.41 |
| African Youth Games | Algiers, Algeria | 1st | 3000 m | 7:50.98 | |
| Youth Olympic Games | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 2nd | 3000 m + XC | 4 pts | |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 4th | 10,000 m | 27:46.16 |
| 2022 | World Indoor Championships | Belgrade, Serbia | 23rd (h) | 3000 m (indoor) | 7:58.59 |
| World Championships | Eugene, OR, United States | 7th | 10,000 m | 27:31.00 | |
| 2023 | World Cross Country Championships | Bathurst, Australia | 2nd | Senior race | 29:26 |
| 2nd | Team | 32 pts | |||
| World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 8th | 5000 m | 13:12.99 | |
| 4th | 10,000 m | 27:55.71 | |||
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 2nd | 10,000 m | 26:43.44 |
| World Cross Country Championships | Belgrade, Serbia | 2nd | Senior race | ||
| 3rd | Senior team |
4.2. Personal bests
- 3000 metres - 7:21.28 (Chorzów 2024) Ethiopian record
- 3000 metres indoor - 7:26.20 (Karlsruhe 2022)
- 5000 metres - 12:40.45 (Lausanne 2023)
- 10,000 metres - 26:31.13 (Nerja 2024)
;Road
- 5 km - 12:49 (Barcelona 2021) World record
- 10 km - 26:33 (Laredo 2023) Ethiopian record
4.3. Circuit wins and national titles
- Diamond League champion (5000 metres): 2021, 2024
- 2021: Zürich Weltklasse (5 km)
- 2022: Eugene Prefontaine Classic (5000m, World Leading, Meeting Record, Personal Best)
- Ethiopian Championships
- 10,000 metres: 2021
- Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza: 2024, 2025