Tolossa Kotu Explained

Tolossa Kotu Terfe (born 25 December 1952 also transliterated as Tolosa Kotu) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner and coach. He placed fourth in men's 10,000 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics and has coached the national teams of both Ethiopia and Bahrain.

Running career

Tolossa Kotu represented Ethiopia at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich in the 5000 metres, but failed to qualify for the final.[1] At the 1980 Olympics in Moscow Kotu ran the 10,000 metres, winning his heat.[1] [2] In the final he stayed with the leaders until the last lap, placing fourth behind Miruts Yifter, Kaarlo Maaninka and Mohammed Kedir.[2] Track & Field News ranked him the seventh-best 10,000 m runner of 1980, behind the three runners he lost to at the Olympics and three whose countries boycotted the Olympics (Craig Virgin, Henry Rono and Toshihiko Seko); this was the only time he was ranked in the world's top 10.[3] In 1981 he represented Africa at 5,000 metres in the 1981 IAAF World Cup in Rome, placing fifth.[4]

Coaching career

Kotu remained active in distance running as a coach. Kenenisa Bekele joined Kotu's Mugher Cement Factory team as a 16-year-old in 1998, and Kotu coached him to multiple Olympic and world titles.[5] [6] [7] Kotu also coached Ethiopian national teams[8] [9] [10] before moving to Bahrain to coach that country's team.[6] [11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tolossa Kotu Bio, Stats and Results . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418072232/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/tolossa-kotu-1.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . 14 December 2014 . Sports Reference LLC.
  2. Book: Siukonen, Markku . Urheilutieto 5 . 1980 . Oy Scandia Kirjat Ab . 951-9466-20-7 . Finnish. etal.
  3. World Rankings — Men's 10,000 . . 14 December 2014.
  4. Web site: 1st IAAF/VTB Bank Continental Cup Split 2010: IAAF Statistics Handbook . PDF . 32 . Butler, Mark . . 14 December 2014.
  5. Web site: Our Ambassadors: Kenenisa Bekele . . 14 December 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141214192405/http://www.diamondleague.com/en/Diamond-Race/Ambassador-Overview/Kenenisa-BEKELE/ . 14 December 2014 .
  6. News: Bekele the apple of coach Kotu's eye . https://archive.today/20141214181804/http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/athletics/bekele-the-apple-of-coach-kotu-s-eye/article1-1086725.aspx . dead . 14 December 2014 . 14 December 2014 . . 4 July 2013 .
  7. Book: Top 101 Athletes . Britannica Educational Publishing . Nagle, Jeanne . 2014 . 978-1-6227-5135-8 . 14 December 2014.
  8. Web site: 'Focus on Africans' - men's 10,000m Final biographies . International Association of Athletics Federations . 14 December 2014.
  9. Web site: Ethiopia's final squad of 27 for Athens . International Association of Athletics Federations . 10 August 2004 . 14 December 2014.
  10. Web site: Ethiopia seeks to top best medal haul in Fukuoka . 27 March 2006 . 14 December 2014 . International Association of Athletics Federations.
  11. News: Alemu on track for greater glory . . 2 March 2009 . 14 December 2014.

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