Ethiopia/Senegal: Dakar 2026 - Ethiopian Elsabet Amare Takes Her Racing Dreams from Injibara to Dakar

What the report says

Ethiopian runner Elsabet Amare, 17, is preparing to compete for her country at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, according to Bird Story Agency’s report distributed by AllAfrica. The profile presents her as one of Ethiopia’s emerging distance runners and says she hopes to build on the experience she gained in earlier international competition while aiming for more medals in Dakar.

The article says Amare first drew wider attention at an under-18 event in Nigeria in 2025, where she won silver in the 1,500 metres and later took gold in the 800 metres with a late surge. World Athletics reportedly described that performance as a tactical display, highlighting her finishing strength. Amare said her confidence comes from knowing she can close strongly in races.

Bird Story Agency traces her path back to Injibara, a town in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where she grew up with encouragement from her father, who introduced her to athletics and to Ethiopian stars such as Meseret Defar, Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba. The story also notes support from teachers, coaches and a local community that helped her balance school and training.

Amare told the outlet she wants her progress to motivate other young athletes in her hometown. More broadly, her story reflects Ethiopia’s strong running culture and the role of local support systems in developing elite athletes, especially as youth competitions offer a pathway onto the international stage.