Belayneh Densamo

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Belayneh Densamo (born June 28, 1965 in Diramo Afarrara, Sidamo) is a long distance track and road running athlete from Ethiopia. He held the world record in the marathon for 10 years (1988-1998). This was the third longest span without the record being broken since the event was first organized at the 1896 Olympics. The record was set when he ran 2:06:50 at the 1988 Rotterdam Marathon in the Netherlands. The record was eventually broken by Ronaldo da Costa at the Berlin Marathon in 1998.

[edit] Awards

• Marathon second place - Tokyo Marathon 1986
• Marathon winner - Moscow Marathon 1986
• Marathon winner - Rotterdam Marathon 1987
• Marathon winner - All-Africa Games 1987
• Marathon winner and world record holder - Rotterdam 1988
• Marathon winner - Rotterdam 1989
• Marathon winner - Rotterdam 1996
• Marathon winner - Fukuoka Marathon 1990

[edit] Current status

As of 2007, Densamo lives in the area of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is no longer active in international competition.

[edit] See also

• Marathon world best progression

Records
Preceded by Carlos Lopes	Men's Marathon World Record Holder April 17, 1988 – September 20, 1998	Succeeded by Ronaldo da Costa
Sporting positions
Preceded by Abebe Mekonnen	Men's Rotterdam Marathon Winner 1987 – 1989	Succeeded by Hiromi Taniguchi
Preceded by Richard Mabuza	Men's All-Africa Games Marathon Winner 1987	Succeeded by Tena Negere
Preceded by Takeyuki Nakayama	Men's Fastest Marathon Race 1988	Succeeded by Juma Ikangaa
Preceded by Manuel Matias	Men's Fukuoka Marathon Winner 1990	Succeeded by Shuichi Morita
Preceded by Martín Fiz	Men's Rotterdam Marathon Winner 1996	Succeeded by Dionisio Castro