The fastest female distance runner in the world under the marathon will now be stepping up to the 42.2-kilometre distance. The four-time world record holder from Ethiopia, Letesenbet Gidey will finally make her debut in the marathon at the 2022 Valencia Marathon on Dec. 4. Valencia is where she ran her 5000m WR of 14:06.62 in October 2020 & 1:02:52 to shatter the half marathon WR last October.
On May 11, Letesenbet announced on her Instagram page that she will be stepping up to the marathon distance. Valencia has been a lucky location for the 24-year-old, as she set two of her four world records (5,000m and half marathon) in the Spanish city.
The first time Letesenbet stepped up the half-marathon distance last October, she became the first woman to dip under the 64 and 63-minute barriers, clocking 1:02:52. In June 2021, Letesenbet also set the world record in the 10,000m in 29:01, then later went on to win the silver in the women’s 10,000m at the Toyko Olympics, outkicked for gold by Sifan Hassan.
According to Jack Daniels VDOT performance tables which predict an athlete’s performance based on previous performance, Gidey’s half marathon world record of 1:02:52 translates to a sub 2:12 marathon. Kenya’s Brigid Kosegei currently holds the world record for the marathon with 2:14:04, which she ran at the Chicago Marathon in 2019.
Gidey is the first of many big names who will participate in the 42nd edition of the Valencia Marathon. Who knows what she will run come December on Valencia’s flat and fast marathon course, but certainly Kosgei’s world record could be under threat.
Letesenbet to make marathon debut this fall
16th Addis International Film Festival: A Big Show on Human Rights
Because of Covid-19, the 2021 Addis International Film Festival (AIFF) was held in venues with strictly limited seats. This year the situation seems to have relaxed for the AIFF 2022. Hosted by Initiative Africa the opening ceremony will take place on May 25th at the Italian Cultural Institute at 5pm. To kick things off for the 2022 Festival, the Opening Night Film will be the World Premiere of “Among Us Women” directed by Sara Noa Bozenhardt. For the grand finale of five exciting days of screenings, the Closing Night Headliner will be “The Ins and Outs” directed by Yoannes Feleke on May 29th 2022.
The AIFF is an annual regional festival of films from around the world. Founded in 2007 by Kebour Ghenna, the festival initially screened ten films over 6 days at the then Addis Ababa Exhibition Center. The festival took place in various venues, but the regular venues remained Alliance Ethio Française, Hager Fiker Theater and Italian Cultural Institute. This year these same three venues are retained.
Throughout its history, a myriad of celebrities – actors, producers, screenwriters, and directors – have been guests at the AIFF. This year the Festival hosts Daniel Kotter, Sara Noa Bozenhardt and Nefise Ozkal Lorentzen from Germen and Norway.
Lucy, the 2022 AIFF Coordinator, explained that the screenings of these film makers will be accompanied by a Q&A. She said “we are happy that our guests will help us and our audience understanding and discussing the issues.”
This event is directed towards young political students and professionals from Addis Ababa. Lucy indicated that “IA strongly believes in the power and impact of future generations across the country wanting to make a difference!” We hope, she said the festival will also create a platform for people in Addis Ababa to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss the various issues related to Human Rights work.
Biniam Girmay takes historic stage at Giro d’Italia
Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay, who became the first African winner of the Belgian classic Gent-Wevelgem in March, made history again on the roads of Jesi, Italy, by conquering the cycling dream of a whole continent with a Stage 10 win in this year’s Giro d’Italia.
“It is not just history. It is the manner in which he took that sprint,” said GCN sports commentator Orla Chennaoui, after Girmay, from Intermarché-Wanty Gobert, outsprinted Mathieu Van der Poel from a reduced bunch in the finish of today’s stage. The 22-year-old is the first Black African rider to win a stage in a Grand Tour.Girmay is a breath of fresh air in the European-dominated peloton; not only is he quick, but he can also read a race and improvise in the moments that matter most. In the opening stage of the Giro, in Budapest, Hungary, Girmay duked it out with van der Poel in a fiery uphill sprint. While van der Poel took the stage victory and leader’s jersey (Maglia Rosa), Girmay took second and secured the best young rider jersey (Maglia Blanca) for the next day.
A Black African cyclist winning a stage of the most prestigious Italian stage race is historically meaningful. Girmay may have a short track record, but with five top-five finishes in the first half of the Giro, and this historic win, it is safe to say that the future is filled with promise for the Eritrean.
