Tadese Tola has represented his country at World Championship events in cross country and track, and on the roads. In 2013, he ran four marathons with impressive results. First he set a personal best of 2:04:49 at the Dubai Marathon, then he finished runner-up in Paris and next earned the bronze medal at the World Championships Marathon in Moscow. Finishing the year, he set a course record with a win in Beijing, which was also the fastest marathon ever run on Chinese soil. Making his marathon debut in Chicago in 2009, Tola has since earned a podium berth at eight marathons, including most recently a win in Warsaw and a runner-up spot in Tokyo. His half marathon best is 59:49, which was recorded in 2010 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon.

“Boston is a tough race, and it takes a special athlete to win the race,” says Tola. “I hope I can be that athlete. Boston is the top of our sport, and I want to win this race and leave my name among the best distance athletes of all time.” Tola says of his early running days, “I started running when I was a child, as runners are very famous athletes in Ethiopia, and we all look up to them and want to be like them.
I wanted to be a champion like other great Ethiopian athletes before me.” He trains in Addis Ababa with his coach, Haji Adilo.

“Boston is a very historic event with a long line of wonderful champions, and I am determined to be the champion and add my name to that list.”