Meet The Dibaba Sisters: The Fastest Siblings In The World
The Dibaba sisters from Ethiopia make up the fastest family in the world, being the only siblings in recorded history to simultaneously hold world records.
Between them, they have amassed an astounding haul of 4 Olympic gold medals, 2 silvers, 3 bronze and 15 world championships.
Their Humble Beginnings
The four sisters – Ejegayehu, Tirunesh, Genzebe and Anna – were born and raised near Addis Ababa to parents who were subsistence farmers.
According to Vogue, their mother Gutu attributes the women’s success to the loving family environment as well as a healthy diet including wheat, barley and iron-rich teff from their farms.
They hail from a family of seven siblings, with every one being a competitive runner. Their younger brother, Dejene, is also tipped for greatness in the future by sports experts.
Record-Breaking Performances
Tirunesh, the most successful of the sisters, has made Olympic history by winning an astounding three gold medals. At the 2008 Beijing Games, she became the first woman to claim gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m races. She defended her 10,000m title at the 2012 London Olympics, the first woman to win two consecutive Olympic golds.
Genzebe won silver in the same event at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Eldest sister Ejegayehu is also an Olympian, winning silver at the 2004 Athens Games. Cousin Derartu Tulu added to the family’s Olympic legend by becoming the first Black African woman to win Olympic gold in 1992.
As NBC analyst Ato Boldon stated, “It’s not a stretch to say they are the world’s fastest family […]”World records, Olympic medals, world championships—the Dibabas’ accomplishments are unprecedented in this sport.”
Giving Back To Their Roots
With their success, the athletic sisters have invested heavily back into their local Ethiopian communities. They are real estate moguls in Addis Ababa, owning several high-rise developments. Yet the Dibabas continue striving for more glory for Ethiopia on the global stage.
Their mother credits the nutrient-dense traditional diet of teff, wheat and barley for providing her daughters with the strength and stamina to reach the pinnacle of athletics. This, combined with favorable physiology from growing up in the mountainous Ethiopian highlands, has created the perfect conditions to create a family of running phenomena.
As Gutu states, it is the loving family environment that nurtured the siblings and set them on the path to greatness. With such strong family support propelling them forwards, expect the Dibabas to continue smashing records and making history for many years to come.
