This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by his given name, Miruts, and not as Yifter.
Miruts Yifter (Amharic and Tigrinya: ምሩፅ ይፍጠር, affectionately known as "Yifter the Shifter",[2][3] 15 May 1944 – 22 December 2016) was an Ethiopian long-distance runner and winner of two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics. His date of birth is often given as 15 May 1944, though there is some uncertainty about this. His name is also sometimes spelled as Muruse Yefter.
Born in Adigrat in northern Ethiopia, Miruts spent early parts of his youth working in different factories and as a carriage driver. His talent as a long-distance runner was noticed when he joined the Ethiopian Air Force.
Miruts was unable to participate in the 1976 Summer Olympics because his nation boycotted the event. Four years later in Moscow, Miruts made up for his disappointments by winning gold in both the 10,000 and 5000 m.[4] In the final of the 10,000 m he sprinted into the lead 300 m from the finish and won by ten metres. Five days later, in the 5000 m final, Miruts was boxed in during the last lap. But with 300 m to go, his Ethiopian teammate, Mohamed Kedir, stepped aside and Miruts again sprinted to victory. Due to his abrupt change in speed when executing his kick to the finish, Miruts acquired the nickname "Yifter the Shifter."
At Coamo, Puerto Rico on 6 February 1977, Miruts ran a World Best for the half-marathon of 1:02:57.
At the Moscow Olympics, part of the mystery surrounding Miruts was the question of his age, which was reported to be between 33 and 42. Miruts refused to give a definitive answer, telling reporters:
"Men may steal my chickens; men may steal my sheep. But no man can steal my age."
The most common versions of his date of birth are 1 January 1938 or 15 May 1944 (see IAAF Profile).
Miruts continued competing into the early 1980s, running on Ethiopia's gold medal winning team at the 1982 and 1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Death
Miruts's grave in the Holy Trinity Cathedral cemetery
Miruts died at age of 72 on 22 December 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, where he had lived since 2000.[5] According to family members, he had been suffering from respiratory problems.[6]
miruts, yifter, this, article, about, person, whose, name, includes, patronymic, article, properly, refers, person, given, name, miruts, yifter, amharic, tigrinya, ምሩፅ, ይፍጠር, affectionately, known, yifter, shifter, 1944, december, 2016, ethiopian, long, distan. This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic The article properly refers to the person by his given name Miruts and not as Yifter Miruts Yifter Amharic and Tigrinya ምሩፅ ይፍጠር affectionately known as Yifter the Shifter 2 3 15 May 1944 22 December 2016 was an Ethiopian long distance runner and winner of two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics His date of birth is often given as 15 May 1944 though there is some uncertainty about this His name is also sometimes spelled as Muruse Yefter Miruts YifterMiruts 191 at the 1980 Summer OlympicsPersonal informationNative nameምሩፅ ይፍጠርNationalityEthiopianBorn 1944 05 15 15 May 1944Adigrat Tigray Province Ethiopian EmpireDied22 December 2016 2016 12 22 aged 72 Toronto Ontario CanadaSportSportTrackEvent s 5000 m 10 000 mAchievements and titlesPersonal best s 5000 m 13 13 82 1 10 000 m 27 40 96 1 Medal record Men s athleticsRepresenting EthiopiaOlympic Games1980 Moscow 5000 metres1980 Moscow 10 000 metres1972 Munich 10 000 metresAll Africa Games1973 Lagos 10 000 metres1973 Lagos 5000 metresRepresenting AfricaIAAF World Cup1977 Dusseldorf 5000 metres1977 Dusseldorf 10 000 metres1979 Montreal 5000 metres1979 Montreal 10 000 metres Contents 1 Early life 2 Running career 3 Death 4 International competitions 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditBorn in Adigrat in northern Ethiopia Miruts spent early parts of his youth working in different factories and as a carriage driver His talent as a long distance runner was noticed when he joined the Ethiopian Air Force Running career EditMiruts was called to the Ethiopian national team for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City but he made his Olympic debut four years later in Munich Olympics where he won a bronze medal in 10 000 metres However he arrived too late for the 5000 metres final In the 1973 All Africa Games he won one gold medal 10 000 m and one silver 5000 m At the 1st African Championships in 1979 he won two gold medals 5000 and 10 000 metres Miruts was unable to participate in the 1976 Summer Olympics because his nation boycotted the event Four years later in Moscow Miruts made up for his disappointments by winning gold in both the 10 000 and 5000 m 4 In the final of the 10 000 m he sprinted into the lead 300 m from the finish and won by ten metres Five days later in the 5000 m final Miruts was boxed in during the last lap But with 300 m to go his Ethiopian teammate Mohamed Kedir stepped aside and Miruts again sprinted to victory Due to his abrupt change in speed when executing his kick to the finish Miruts acquired the nickname Yifter the Shifter At Coamo Puerto Rico on 6 February 1977 Miruts ran a World Best for the half marathon of 1 02 57 At the Moscow Olympics part of the mystery surrounding Miruts was the question of his age which was reported to be between 33 and 42 Miruts refused to give a definitive answer telling reporters Men may steal my chickens men may steal my sheep But no man can steal my age The most common versions of his date of birth are 1 January 1938 or 15 May 1944 see IAAF Profile Miruts continued competing into the early 1980s running on Ethiopia s gold medal winning team at the 1982 and 1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships Death Edit Miruts s grave in the Holy Trinity Cathedral cemetery Miruts died at age of 72 on 22 December 2016 in Toronto Ontario where he had lived since 2000 5 According to family members he had been suffering from respiratory problems 6 He was buried in Addis Ababa in the Holy Trinity Cathedral cemetery International competitions EditYear Competition Venue Position Event NotesRepresenting Ethiopia1979 African Championships Dakar Senegal 1st 5000 m 14 14 01st 10 000 m 29 08 0References Edit a b IAAF Profile of Miruts Yifter Miruts YIFTER Profile www worldathletics org Miruts Yifter at Sports Reference IAAF Turning the clock back to Moscow 1980 News iaaf org iaaf org May 16 2013 Retrieved 2017 11 19 Miruts Yifter the shifter dies December 23 2016 Meseret Elias 23 December 2016 Family Ethiopian running legend Miruts Yifter dies at 72 AP News Retrieved 8 November 2022 External links EditMiruts Yifter at World Athletics Miruts Yifter at Olympics comMiruts Yifter at Olympic org archived Miruts Yifter at Olympedia Sporting positionsPreceded byJuan Rafael Perez Men s half marathon best year performance1977 Succeeded byTony SimmonsPreceded bySuleiman Nyambui Men s 5000 m best year performance1980 Succeeded byHenry RonoOlympic GamesPreceded byRobel Teklemariam Flagbearer for EthiopiaBeijing 2008 Succeeded byRobel Teklemariam Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Miruts Yifter amp oldid 1124544089, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
