Last year the chase for the men’s title at the Boston Marathon was aggressive, with a deep international field of Olympic medalists, IAAF World Marathon champions, and Abbott World Marathon Majors winners battling for the win in rainy and windy conditions. Experience proved the deciding factor, however, as Lelisa Desisa broke away from Yemane Tsegay and Wilson Chebet in the closing mile to secure his second Boston Marathon title. After Desisa’s first win in 2013, he gifted his champion’s medal back to the City of Boston to honor the victims and families affected by the April 15 race-day tragedy. His sincere gesture earned him a place in the hearts of all who respect what the sport of marathon running exemplifies, and his repeat win has firmly placed him in the record books as the only Ethiopian man to have won the Boston Marathon twice. He was named the #1 marathoner in the world by Track & Field News in 2013 (for his Boston and Dubai Marathon wins and silver medal at the IAAF World Championships Marathon). In the past two years Desisa has also finished second and third, respectively, at the TCS New York City Marathon. He has run five half marathons under the one-hour mark and holds a best of 59:30. Additional accomplishments include finishing seventh at the 2015 IAAF World Championships, winning the gold medal at the 2011 All-Africa Games, and placing seventh at the 2010 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. As a junior runner, he won the gold medal in the 10,000m at the 2009 African Junior Athletics Championships.

Desisa was born in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region and trains in Addis Ababa with his coach, Haji Adilo. “I am so happy to return to Boston in 2016 to try to make history as a three-time champion of the world’s most historic race, and to do my best to represent Ethiopian running on the global stage,” says Desisa.

“Boston has become more than a race to me; the city and its people are special and my wins in Boston are the most important moments in my athletic career. I am dreaming of crossing the finish line first for the third time.”

Desisa was born in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region and trains in Addis Ababa with his coach Haji Adilo. Desisa is the fourth Ethiopian to win the Boston Marathon.

“Boston in a wonderful place for racing; it is one of the most historic places in our sport and we all aspire to be the Boston Marathon Champion.”