Dida inspired by husband, Olympic champion Tola, in Dubai Marathon record attempt
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 12.01.25. | 00:12
She comes to Dubai determined to win her second title while Tamirat watches on TV back home on the outskirts of Addis Ababa
Dubbed the First Family in athletics circles, Tola-Dida clan from Ethiopia has made Dubai Marathon their favourite hunting ground and this year's race, set for Sunday 12 January, is no different.
2023 champion in the UAE city race Dera Dida, who is also Olympic men’s champion Tamirat Tola's spouse, is back, adding depth to a women's field headlined by compatriots Tigist Girma (2:18:52) and Zeineba Yimer (2:19:07).
She is hoping to continue a winning streak started by her partner Tamirat when he won Dubai in 2017 (2.04.11). Dida won in 2023 (2.21.11), on the same day that her brother-in-law, Tamirat’s younger sibling Abdisa won the men’s title (2.05.42).
"I think I’m in shape to run the course record," Dida says. The current mark is 2.16.07, set by Tigist Ketema last year. "I hope that will be enough to win."
Tamirat went on to greater things, with a world championship silver medal in London later in 2017, then gold in the delayed world championship in Eugene 2022, a New York Marathon victory in 2023, and the Olympic crown last year.
This time round, he has a far more important task, staying at home and parenting their daughter. This, because bringing their daughter (even with a nanny) to last year’s Dubai race may have distracted Dera from a repeat victory, though she still finished third in 2.19.29, two minutes faster than the previous year.
She comes to Dubai determined to win her second title while Tamirat watches on TV back home on the outskirts of Addis Ababa.
As befits a First Family, only the best is good enough, and their training group has got to be one of if not the strongest in the world. Among her running partners are former marathon world record holder and Olympic silver medallist Tigst Assefa as well as the current marathon World Champion Amane Beriso.
"I don’t train with the group every day," she tells the organisers. "On a day to day basis, I train with Tamirat, but I join them occasionally. Since Tamirat won the Olympics, we’ve had a lot more media interest, but we try to concentrate on our running and not get too distracted."
She faces stiff competition from Girma and Yimer in her quest as the duo has better times. She is, however, confident.
WOMEN:
Tigist Girma ETH 2:18:52
Zeineba Yimer ETH 2:19:07
Dera Dida ETH 2:19:24
Etagegne Woldu ETH 2:20:03
Gadise Mula ETH 2:20:59
Bedatu Hirpa ETH 2:21:09
Beyenu Degefa ETH 2:23:04
Kuftu Tahir Dadiso ETH 2:23:14
Tigist Geshaw ETH 2:24:39
Kebebush Yisma ETH 2:27:46
Mulugojam Ambi ETH 2:28:59
Betukan Welde ETH Debut
Etenesh Diro ETH Debut
Bekelech Teku ETH Debut
Alem Tsadik ETH Debut
