CGTN America
Ethiopia will bank on a 36-strong team at the 2016 Rio Olympics Games. The country has opted for a blend of enthusiasm and experience, with 2008 Beijing Olympics double gold medalist Tirunesh Dibaba among the stars participating.
CCTV Africa’s Girum Chala reports from the team’s training camp in Addis Ababa.
“The Ethiopian team has a very good track record in different international and Olympic tournaments. We have been training hard to possibly repeat that good result at
the upcoming Olympics. The team has prepared itself physically and mentally and will head to Rio soon,” Ethopian Athletics Coach Hussain Shebo said.
Almost 70 percent this Ethiopian Olympic team is made up of young athletes. Youngsters, including Sembere Teferi, have been tasked to deliver gold for the nation.
Former double Olympic champion, Dibaba, recently from maternity leave, will also attempt another Olympics glory in the women’s 10,000 meters.
“God willing, this will be my fourth Olympics participation and I hope to bring good results for my country,” Dibaba said. “It has been a little while since my return from maternity leave and I couldn’t have trained to the levels expected of me. However I believe I had short but effective preparation. God willing I will be a good competitor.”
Their coach Shebo, said that the team is ready.
“The team’s current performance is excellent. I know our competition with Kenyans or Mo Farrah won’t be easy. But as much as possible and based on their current performance,e I think they will achieve a better result,” Shebo said.
