Kenenisa Bekele (born June 13, 1982 in Bekoji /Arsi) is an Ethiopian distance runner who took gold in the 10,000 m at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics and bronze at the 5,000 m.

As of 2005, he has taken both (short and long) races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships 4 years in a row. Nobody has accomplished this feat even once.

Most recently, in 2004, he broke the world records for the indoor 5,000 m, outdoor 5,000 m. and outdoor 10,000 m.

• 5,000 m world record 12:37.35 (Hengelo, Netherlands, on May 31, 2004) from compatriot Haile Gebrselassie at 12:39.36 (on June 13, 1998)
• 10,000 m world record 26:20.31 (Ostrava, Czech Republic, on June 8, 2004) also from Gebrselassie at 26:22.75 (on June 1, 1998)

In 2 of 3 encounters with his senior compatriot Gebrselassie, Bekele has taken the win.

In the 10,000 m. at the 2004 Summer Olympics Kenenisa took the title away from his compatriot Haile Gebrselassie, who achieved a fifth place. Bekele closed the last 400 in 53.02 seconds, outkicking his teammate Sileshi Sihine. Bekele also took a close silver medal in the 5,000 m in the same Olympics, being kicked down in the last 50 meters by the miler Hicham El Guerrouj.

Major Victories

• 2002 World Country Cross Champion in short race
• 2002 World Country Cross Champion in long race
• 2003 World Country Cross Champion in short race
• 2003 World Country Cross Champion in long race
• 2003 World Champion 10,000 m, Paris (France)
• 2004 World Country Cross Champion in short race
• 2004 World Country Cross Champion in long race
• 2004 Olympic Champion 10,000 m, Athens (Greece)
• 2005 World Country Cross Champion in short race, St. Etienne (France)
• 2005 World Country Cross Champion in long race, St. Etienne (France)