Ethiopians participate in a lot of sports, but they are most well known for their runners. Ethiopia has been referred to as the “running mecca” mainly due to the fact that they have achieved great success in middle and long distance running.

The most popular sports in Ethiopia are athletics and football. The Ethiopian national football team called the “Walyia Antelopes” won the 1962 African Cup of Nations and in 2013 Ethiopia qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 31 years. Ethiopia is also one of the first countries that has an established basketball team of all the Sub-Saharan African countries (1949).

"Ethiopia's dominance in distance running is one of the most remarkable stories in modern sport. The combination of high-altitude living, cultural emphasis on running, and an incredible depth of talent has produced generations of world-class athletes."
— Robert Wood, sports science expert who has analyzed sports performance data for over 25 years

Did You Know?

Abebe Bikila won the 1960 Olympic marathon running barefoot through the streets of Rome, becoming the first black African Olympic gold medalist.

Ethiopia at the Summer Olympics →

When it comes to the Olympics, Ethiopia first participated in 1956 and have been sending athletes to the Summer Olympics ever since with a handful of exceptions (1976, 1984 and 1988). Ethiopia is also one of a few African countries that has participated in the Winter Olympic Games which they first sent athletes to in 2006. Ethiopia has won over 50 Olympic medals throughout their history, all from Summer Olympics athletics events.

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Ethiopia. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.

Popular Sports of Ethiopia

Basketball Pioneer

Ethiopia was one of the first Sub-Saharan African countries to establish a basketball team, doing so in 1949 — well before most countries in the region.

Traditional and Regional Sports of Ethiopia

  • Stick fighting — Ethiopia is one of the few nations still actively practicing this traditional sport

Ethiopia Sporting Success

  • Ethiopia won the 1962 African Cup of Nations (football)
  • In 2013 Ethiopia qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 31 years
Olympic Games Gold Silver Bronze Total
Rio 2016 1 2 5 8
Tokyo 2020 1 1 2 4
Paris 2024 1 3 0 4
"Ethiopia's Olympic medal tally, concentrated entirely in athletics events, demonstrates a level of specialization and excellence that few nations in the world can match in any single sporting discipline."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD in Exercise Physiology, University of Western Australia, founder of Topend Sports

Running Mecca

Ethiopia has been referred to as the "running mecca" of the world due to the extraordinary number of world-class distance runners the country has produced.

Great Athletes from Ethiopia

  • Haile Gebrselassie — long-distance track and road running athlete, set 27 world records during his career
  • Abebe Bikila — double Olympic marathon champion, won the 1960 Rome Olympics marathon barefoot
  • Kenenisa Bekele — long-distance runner, dominated 5,000m and 10,000m events
  • Tirunesh Dibaba — distance running athlete, multiple Olympic and World Championship gold medalist
  • Meseret Defar — long-distance running athlete, two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 5,000m

Pro Tip: Ethiopia's high-altitude training camps in towns like Bekoji and Addis Ababa are open to visiting runners who want to experience the environment that has produced so many world-class athletes.

Ethiopia at Major Events

Upcoming Sporting Events in Ethiopia

  • Safaricom Women First 5km Run 2026 — This event will be held in Addis Ababa on 22nd of March, 2026

Annual Sporting Events Held in Ethiopia

  • The Great Ethiopian Run — This is an annual 10 km road race, which is held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • The Ethiopian Marathon — This is an annual marathon, which is held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Pro Tip: If you are visiting Ethiopia, try to time your trip with the Great Ethiopian Run in November — it is one of Africa's largest road races and a spectacular cultural experience.

"Events like the Great Ethiopian Run showcase how deeply running is embedded in Ethiopian culture. The annual event draws tens of thousands of participants and spectators, reflecting the nation's genuine passion for the sport."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports