I have been telling you about some of the noteworthy Ethiopians who are doing interesting things with their lives. In the news today there was a story about Ethiopian distance runner Haile Gebrselassie. Today he ran in the Berlin Marathon. Not only did he win, he shattered the world marathon record by running the race in two hours four minutes 26 seconds. This was 29 seconds faster than a record set by Paul Tergat from Kenya on the same course in 2003.

Tergat and Gebrselassie are long-time friends. Soon after the race, Tergat called from Kenya to offer his congratulations. "I'm sorry," Gebrselassie told his friend. He went on to say he'd had better weather this year, and that was why he had broken his friend's record. But Tergat would not hear of that excuse and told Gebrselassie he was delighted for him. Still, at a news conference later in the day, Gebrselassie said, "I am sorry -- this record belonged to Paul Tergat. Paul is my friend."

A year ago he also ran the race, and ran it a minute slower than his friend. He confessed he was anxious about attacking his friend's record again this year. Gebrselassie, age 34, has set records at distances ranging from 3,000m to the marathon. He is one of only three men to win consecutive Olympic 10,000 meter titles. He won his second gold at the 2000 Sydney Games. During that race, he was barely able to win, fighting off a dramatic last-minute challenge over his friend Tergat.

Gebrselassie was asked if this most recent record was the most important. "Sure, there's no question about that. It's something special. I was dreaming of it for many years. It's my record now. I'm so happy."

And yet in the middle of his victory, he was also thinking of his friend's feelings. That in my mind is a class act, and an Ethiopian I would like my kids to know.

Other Notable Ethiopians:

Meseret Defar

Rebecca Haile

Addisu Gessese

Dinaw Mengestu