Junior career

Sileshi began running at school, inspired by the achievements of compatriot Haile Gebrselassie.

After success at the junior level, he emerged as a leading senior athlete.

2002-2003

In cross country, he won the Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños in 2002 and 2003.^[1]

Sileshi was one of three Ethiopians, along with Kenenisa Bekele and Gebrselassie, who swept the 10,000 metres gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2003 World Championships in Paris. Sihine then won the 10,000 metres at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games.

2004

Sileshi won a bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships. He also won a silver medal in the 10,000 metres at the Summer Olympic Gamess in Athens, behind Bekele.^[2][3][4]

2005

Sileshi won a silver medal in the 10,000 metres, behind Bekele, and the silver medal in the 5,000 metres at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

2006

At the World Cross Country Championships, Sileshi finished second behind Bekele.^[5]

2007

At the World Championships in Osaka, Sileshi took the silver medal in the 10,000 metres, again finishing behind Bekele.

2008

He yet again took a silver medal in the 10,000 metres behind Bekele at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

2011

In May, Sileshi finished fifth in the 5000 metres at the Samsung DL Golden Gala in Rome, Italy.^[6]

Nine days later at the Prefontaine Classic 10,000 metres in Eugene, Oregon, he finished in sixth place, 6.27 seconds behind winner Mohamed Farah.^[7]

Sileshi attempted his first marathon race at the Amsterdam Marathon, but dropped out after 36 kilometres.^[8]

2012

On 7 June, Sileshi finished seventh in the 5000 metres at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway.^[9] Two weeks later at a 10 kilometre road race in Birmingham, U.K., Sihine finished fourth, just 1.06 seconds behind Bekele, the winner.^[10]

2015

In February, he was elected president of the newly formed Ethiopian Athletes’ Association.^[11]