The Dibaba Sisters – The World’s Fastest Family

The Dibaba sisters— Tirunesh, Genzebe, Ejegayehu and Mare— are the only siblings in recorded history to hold concurrent world records.

It’s clearly something in their DNA because the Dibaba sisters are the fastest group of siblings in the world.

Tirunesh is the most decorated, with three Olympic gold medals. She made history at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing where she became the first woman to win gold in the 5,000 meters and 10,000-meter races.  She then went on to win gold at the 2012 Olympics in London, where she became the first woman to win the event at two consecutive Olympics, as reported in Face 2 Face Africa.

The sisters were raised three hours south of the country’s capital of Addis Ababa.  They grew up in a tukul, also known as a round mud hut, without electricity.Genzebe is a silver medalist thanks to the Rio Olympics in 2016,  their older sister, Ejegayehu, is an Olympian, too winning silver from Athens. Their cousin Derartu Tulu Oiwas the first Black African woman to win Olympic gold, in the 1992 games, as first reported in Vogue.

They come from a big family as there are seven siblings, and every one of them is a runner.Both of their parents were farmers and their mother, Gutu, told Vogue that she attributes the women’s success to a loving environment as well as a steady supply of milk from the family cows.

• Tirunesh Dibaba, Ethiopian long-distance runner who has achieved multiple Olympic and World Championships gold medals and world records. She is the middle sister of Ejegayehu and Genzebe Dibaba.

Ejegayehu Dibaba, Ethiopian long-distance runner and 2004 Olympic silver medallist at 10,000 meters. She is the older sister of Tirunesh and Genzebe Dibaba.

• Genzebe Dibaba, Ethiopian long-distance runner and 2015 1,500 meter World Champions gold medalist. She is the younger sister of Tirunesh and Ejegayehu Dibaba.
• Mare Dibaba, Ethiopian marathon runner and 2015 World Championships marathon winner.

“What the Dibabas have is what Serena and Venus have, except there are more of them,” said NBC track analyst, Ato Boldon.  He adds, “It’s not a stretch to say they are the world’s fastest family […]  “World records, Olympic medals, world championships—the Dibabas’ accomplishments are unprecedented in this sport.”