Mert Girmalegesse
Personal information
Birth nameShimelis Girma
Nationality Turkey
Born (1987-11-30) November 30, 1987
Ethiopia
Sport
SportLong distance
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Ethiopia
World Youth Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Sherbrooke 3000 m
Representing  Turkey
European Cup First League
Gold medal – first place2008 Istanbul10000 m
Mediterranean Games
Bronze medal – third place2009 Pescara10000 m
European U23 Championships
Gold medal – first place2009 Kaunas10000 m
European Cross Country Championships
Bronze medal – third place2008 BrusselsU23 Individual

Mert Girmalegesse, formerly Shimelis Girma (Amharic), then Selim Bayrak (Turkish),[1] (born November 30, 1987) is an Ethiopian born Turkish middle and long distance track and field athlete, running in the disciplines of 3000 m, 5000 m and also 10000 m.

Personal life

Born and raised in Ethiopia, he transferred to Turkey for an amount of US$1 million. On May 15, 2008, he received Turkish citizenship and changed his name to Selim Bayrak. Two years later, he took the name Mert and changed his surname to Gırmalegese, his family's name in Ethiopia. For the reason of the repeated name change he stated that he wants to safeguard interests in his country of origin.[2]

Sports career

In 2008, he won the 5000 m at the 2008 European Cup First League group B competitions in Istanbul. In the same year he was third at the European Cross Country Championships in his own age category of men under 23 years (U23).

He finished eleventh in the 10000 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing with 27:29.33 and did not start in the 5000 m qualification heat 3.

In 2009, he won the 10000 m at the 2009 European Athletics U23 Championships in Kaunas and also won bronze in the 10000 m at the 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara.

At the 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships he competed in 3000 m and finished fifth in Torino.

He is a member of the Fenerbahçe S.K. athletics club.[3]

Personal bests

DisciplinePerformancePlaceDate
1 mile4:00:58Istanbul, TurkeyJune 7, 2008
3000 m7:45:46 NRTorino, ItalyMarch 7, 2009
5000 m13:26:14 NRIzmir, TurkeyJune 4, 2008
10000 m27:29:31NRBeijing, ChinaAugust 17, 2008
  • NR National record
  • [4]

Performance progression

DisciplineSeasonPerformancePlaceDate
1 mile20084:00:58Istanbul, TurkeyJune 7, 2008
3000 m20097:45:46Torino, ItalyMarch 7, 2009
5000 m200813:26:14Izmir, TurkeyJune 4, 2008
5000 m200913:55:61Bursa, TurkeyJune 9, 2009
8000 m200825:17Brussels, BelgiumDecember 14, 2008
10000 m200827:45:75Istanbul, TurkeyApril 12, 2008
10000 m200827:29:31Beijing, ChinaAugust 17, 2008
10000 m200929:36:29Pescara, ItalyJuly 2, 2009
10000 m200929:47:15Kaunas, LithuaniaJuly 19, 2009

References

  1. ↑ Naturalized Turkish Sportspeople
  2. ↑ "Bayrak'ı beğenmedi". Sabah (in Turkish). 2010-06-09.
  3. ↑ Selim signed for Fenerbahce
  4. ↑ Personal best from iaaf.org
  5. ↑ Personal progression from iaaf.org

Mert Girmalegesse at World Athletics

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