The fastest family in the world: the Dibaba sisters. While sibling rivalry can break families, it strengthened the bond between sisters Genzebe, Tirunesh and Ejegayehu. The long distance running siblings have broken multiple records and won many medals along the way. But where did it all start? For that we have to go back to their home country Ethiopia. They grew up three hours away from Addis Ababa in a ‘tukul’, also known as a round mud hut, without electricity. Both parents were farmers and their mother attributed the women’s success to a loving environment as well as a steady supply of milk from the family cows. The person that inspired the Dibaba sisters into athletics was none other than their cousin Derartu Tulu, who wrote history when she became the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal at the 1992 games. The first to make a name for herself at the Olympics was the eldest sister, Ejegayehu. In 2004, she won silver at the Athens Olympics and in the year that followed she won bronze medals at the World Championships. The most decorated athlete is the middle child, Tirunesh. In 2003, she became the youngest World Champion at 18 years old. At the 2008 Olympics, she became the first woman to win gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m races. 4 years later she defended her gold medal in the 10,000m at the London Olympics, becoming the first woman to win the event at two consecutive Olympics. The youngest sister, Genzebe, has also marked her name in long distance running. In 2014, broke three world indoor records in a span of two weeks. One year later, Genzebe won the IAAF’s Athlete of the Year Award after breaking her first outdoor world record. Their impact on long distance running has been undeniable as the sisters have been the only siblings in recorded history to hold concurrent world records. Track legend Haile Gebrselassie said, “There are a few running families, but not like the Dibabas,” and he’s right. Inspired by their cousin who became the first black African woman to win Olympic gold, growing up in a loving environment and a friendly rivalry all helped for the Dibaba sisters to edge their name in track and field history 🇪🇹