Birth name Shimelis Girma Nationality Turkey | Sport Long distance Name Mert Girmalegesse | |
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Born November 30, 1987 (age 36) ( 1987-11-30 ) Ethiopia Personal best(s) 1 mile: 4:00:58 (2008)
3000 m 7:45:46 NR (2009)
5000 m: 13:26:14 NR (2008)
10000 m: 27:29:31 NR (2008) | ||
Mert Girmalegesse, formerly Shimelis Girma (Amharic), then Selim Bayrak (Turkish), (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.
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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.
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.