The 34-year-old won world gold in Doha five years ago, plus marathon titles in Boston and New York.
Former world marathon champion Lelisa Desisa will return to the scene of one of her most memorable victories when she joins an elite field of world-class athletes at the 24th Dubai Marathon on Sunday 12 January.
In 2013, the Ethiopian set a personal best of 2:04:45 in winning the Dubai Marathon, a performance that heralded his arrival on the world stage and set him on a path to two wins at the Boston Marathon, a win at the 2018 New York Marathon and gold in 2019 in the World Championship.
Held under the auspices of the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Marathon will see the 34-year-old return to competitive racing after several years of juggling business and family matters.
Following his World Championship victory in Doha in October 2019, Desisa found his international running opportunities limited due to the global pandemic and looking ahead to his future, focused his efforts on starting a business in Ethiopia.
Lelisa Desisa (Getty)
With his affairs now in order and two young children recently welcomed into the Desisa family, the three-time big city marathon champion has returned to full-time training, confirming the Dubai Marathon as his running comeback.
“Lelisa’s victory in 2013 saw one of the most memorable finishes in Dubai Marathon history, so we are delighted to welcome her back to the event,” said race director Peter Connerton.
“Eleven years ago, Lelisa won the sprint, finishing in the top five in under 2:05, the first time in the history of the marathon. It’s a testament to the smooth and fast track we have in Dubai that Lelisa wants on January 12- to continue his comeback in the UAE.”
Before the pandemic, Desisa was one of the hottest properties in distance running. a top three major city marathon finish in eight years, including those three victories, established him at the pinnacle of the sport in six years, and his return to international competition will be eagerly awaited;
Lelisa Desisa (Dubai Marathon)
Desisa, who also won the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in 2014, will join an elite field of world-class athletes for the 24th edition of the Middle East’s fastest international marathon, and will be joined by thousands of runners competing in three races. Registration for the marathon, 10 km road race and 4 km fun run can only be done online at: dubaimarathon.org.
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