Haile Gebrselassie Quotations

I find the business world hard.

The more you are getting older, you lose a little something. Of course there is another advantage, because of your long experience you can use it.

I remember in particular my first victory when I achieved a very fast time in what were perfect conditions but since then the wind has always been a factor against me.

My father didn't think running was sensible. He told me running is just wasting time.

In the marathon a crazy athlete can just keep pushing from the beginning, at a championship you don't need a time just to win the race.

My father thought sport was something fun - he didn't know it was a way to make money. Then I won a Mercedes at the world championships and I gave it to him. From the moment it arrived my father said: 'Good, you can support not just yourself but me too'.

You know the marathon in my country is just exceptional. It's like soccer in England. If England win the world cup and Ethiopia win the marathon - it's the same.

Since I achieved something, running has exploded in my country. For me sometimes it is difficult even to know who the athletes are who are competing at the highest level. There are thousands.

I have to change a lot of things before I become a good marathon runner.

I wanted to experience New York, to look up and see buildings.