Ethiopian born teenager wants to run for Australia Olympic team

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Now the young running superstar wants to repay the nation which has become his new home by representing Australia at the Olympic Games.

The 14-year-old Woodridge resident and Fast Track Athletics member won silver in the 1500m and was ninth in the 800m at his maiden Australian Junior Athletics Championships, held last month in Sydney, after just four months of training.

“He made states in cross country last year with little training and joined us in December,” coach Murray Watkins said.

“He not only has enormous natural talent but he is an extremely hard worker which is one of the reasons why he has been so successful so quickly.”

Watkins backed the Woodridge State High School student, who lives with his uncle and aunt, to achieve his goal.

“He wants to represent Australia and as long as he keeps focused he will definitely get there.”

Training partner, 16-year-old Got Malual, whose parents hail from Sudan, shared in the success, claiming silver in the 400m hurdles and fifth in the 800m event in her first national championships.

The duo are aiming to represent Australia at the World Youth Athletics Championships in the coming years with Malual’s 800m time just four seconds off the qualifying time needed for next year’s event in Columbia.

Fast Track Athletics won 13 medals overall with three gold, five silver and five bronze.

“The standard of competition just seems to get better and better every year and I am really proud of how well all our athletes performed,” Watkins said.