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Abraham: “It’s amazing to see these Swiss flags”
The Geneva native finished the Paris Olympics marathon in 38th place and was very emotional. He will retire in December.
Tadesse Abraham was deeply moved after his final Olympic marathon in Paris.
KEYSTONE/Anthony Anix
It was a beautiful picture. Tadesse Abraham, 41, finished her final Olympic marathon in 2:12:22 on Saturday at the Place des Invalides in Paris, finishing 38th, ahead of three-time Olympic track and field champion and Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele. “I’m so happy to see the finish line,” the Geneva native quickly reacted.
Because it was far from certain. Two weeks ago, Tadesse Abraham’s preparations were cut short by a thigh injury during a training camp in Kenya. “I have not been able to train since then. Until last night (editor’s note: Friday), I was not sure if I would be able to start,” he stressed. On the 29th kilometer downhill, I felt my muscles. It was really difficult, but I decided to enjoy the race.”
Tadesse Abraham is ahead of the legendary Kenenisa Bekele.
KEYSTONE/Anthony Anix
For the athlete, who has represented Switzerland since the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zurich, this was his last major international championship, and for good reason. “A lot of emotions came to the surface in the last 200 metres. I arrived in Switzerland as a refugee and it was a huge shock to wear the jersey at the Olympics in front of all those spectators. We were not far from home and it was amazing to see so many Swiss flags.”
The Rio Olympics is the best memory
During her career, Tadesse Abraham won an international medal for Switzerland. In 2016, he won the European Half Marathon Championship in Amsterdam. In the same year, he finished seventh at the Rio Olympics. Two of the best moments of his career, although the Olympics in Brazil have a slight edge in his mind. “It was my first race and tactically the best race of my career.”
The long-distance specialist, multiple winner of the Course de l’Escalade in Geneva, still has the chance to create some memories between now and his retirement in December. “Everything is planned until December 15. And then? I’m going to sit down with my family and discuss what’s next,” concludes Tadesse Abraham with great emotion.
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