Meseret Defar: Top Female Athlete of 2007

Earlier today, Ethiopian great Meseret Defar was crowned as the female World Athlete of the Year for 2007 at the World Athletics Gala in Monte-Carlo. This is the first time an Ethiopian female athlete has been selected for this most prestigious award in athletics. In the past, Kenenisa Bekele has received the men's award on two occasions while Haile Gebrselassie received it one time.

Upon receiving the award, which carries a USD100,000 prize, Defar commented:

I don’t have words to describe how happy I am. This is very special for me. This is very special for Ethiopian women. Those who struggle very hard and who don't have very many opportunities to achieve the highest levels of athletics. So I dedicate this award to them.

At the same Gala Awards, Haile Gebrselassie, who was one of the three finalist for male World Athlete of the Year, was selected for the category of Inspirational Award... more

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Below is a summary of links to reports ROOCHA posted on Meseret Defar during 2007:

• Record in Stuttgart
• Speedy Mezzy
• Defar Breaks 5000M WR
• They Call Her Bold
• Osaka: Day Eight - Women's 5000M Final

Snubbed Again for Chiba?

What has the Ethiopian Athletics Federation done to upset the Japanese? This has been an unanswered question for a year now. There is a report that Ethiopia, for the second year in a row, has not been invited by the Japanese federation to compete at the prestigious Chiba Ekiden Relay. The question I posed at the bottom of my Nov. 27, 2006 post remians unanswered.