Tadesse Getahun Overcomes Early Setbacks to Lead Israel to European Marathon Gold

Tadesse Getahun, an Ethiopian-born Israeli runner holding five national long-distance records, has achieved a significant milestone by leading the Israeli team to a gold medal in the European Marathon Championship in Birmingham, England. The 28-year-old, who immigrated to Israel at age 14, faced considerable challenges transitioning to the marathon distance, failing to finish two of his first three races. However, his fourth marathon proved triumphant, securing him fifth place individually and contributing to Israel's team victory over Germany.

Getahun's journey began in a small village near Gondar, Ethiopia, where his childhood involved physical labor like herding and farming, which he credits with building his athletic foundation. After immigrating in 2012 and settling in northern Israel, he initially had no intention of pursuing athletics. A sports teacher recognized his potential, and after initial reluctance, Getahun joined the school's track team. His dedication, particularly under the guidance of former Olympian Zohar Zimro, led to multiple Israeli youth championships and a bronze medal in the senior 10,000 meters.

The transition to marathons was arduous. His first attempt in Fukuoka, Japan, in November 2024, saw him leading until the 35-kilometer mark before hitting "the wall" due to inexperience and poor pacing, forcing him to withdraw. A subsequent attempt in Amsterdam in October 2025 was more successful, finishing ninth and qualifying him for the European Championship. However, further setbacks included illness before the Tokyo Marathon and a withdrawal due to injury during the Rotterdam Marathon, his second DNF (Did Not Finish).

Getahun reflected that "the marathon has its own rules," emphasizing the learning curve involved in pacing and race management. His preparation for the European Championship was his best to date, focusing on gradually increasing mileage and building endurance. The Israeli team's strategy in Birmingham was to run cohesively, with the times of the top three runners determining the team's standing. Despite a challenging race where a key teammate, Maru Teferi, fell behind, the remaining runners maintained their collective effort.

Ultimately, Getahun's fifth-place finish (2:09:31), alongside teammates Gashau Ayale (bronze, 2:09:21) and Aymro Allame (eighth, 2:09:45), secured the team gold with a combined time of 6:28:37, narrowly beating Germany. This victory marks Israel's third team marathon gold at the European Championships. Getahun now aims to recover and focus on future goals, including becoming one of Israel's top three fastest marathoners to qualify for the World Championships.