Lamecha Girma

Sports Career of Lamecha Girma | Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma Biography

Girma burst onto the international stage in 2019, finishing third at the U20 African Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

He entered the Diamond League Circuit as well this year, finishing in the top three in Paris and Brussels. Despite still only being 18, he would go on to win his heat in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the World Championships and then capture silver in the final with a time of 8:01.36, 0.01 seconds behind Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto.

Girma had limited competition opportunities the next year in 2020, with the Olympics and the most important meetings on the calendar postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, he only ran the steeplechase twice. He won the Herculis Diamond League Event in Monaco and then finished second at the Olympics in Tokyo with a time of 8:10.38, finishing behind Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco.

Going into 2022, Girma saw himself near the top of the field in several major events, first finishing second at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Serbia with a time of 7:41.63 in the 3,000-meter. He then went on to finish second at Diamond League events in Doha and Morocco and win the Golden Gala in Rome. At the World Championships in Eugene, United States, Girma made a push to finish on top of the podium but would once again have to settle for second behind El Bakkali.

It was the same story the next year at the World Championships in Budapest, with Girma again finishing second behind El Bakkali.

In June, before the World Championships, Girma would run 7:52.11 seconds in the 3,000-meter to break the almost 20-year-old record set by Saif Saaeed Shaheen.

Lamecha Girma Olympics 2024

Going into the Paris Olympics, Girma was one of the favorites to win the 3,000-meter steeplechase as the current world record holder. On the final lap, he suffered a fall when he clipped the barrier with his back leg, which left him unconscious and required him to be carried off on a stretcher. He was responsive a few minutes later and was transported to the hospital shortly after. He was diagnosed with a concussion.

According to an article by Jonathan Gault of Letsrun written in May 2025, he would be unable to train in the fall and wouldn’t return to training until January. His agent went on to say that he still feels the effects, such as dizziness at some speeds.

He only competed twice in 2025, winning the event at the Paris Diamond League in June and then competing at the World Championships in September. He went on to win a silver medal at the World Championships for the third time.

Lamecha Girma Personal Life and Other Facts | Who Is Lamecha Girma?

Girma was born in Bekoji, Ethiopia, to farmers and a large family. He has nine siblings, including seven brothers and two sisters. His younger brothers Diriba and Kuma are also both professional runners and the oldest brother, Fikadu is their coach. Kuma has run 13:03.37 in the 5,000-meter and Dirba has run 7:38.79 in the 3,000-meter.

Girma lives in Sululta, about an hour north of Addis Ababa. He learned Amharic as a second language. His native language is Oromo.

FAQs | Lamecha Girma

Lamecha Girma Injury | Lamecha Girma Injury Update

Girma had run twice since his injury, posting a time of 8:07.01 at a meeting in Paris and then going on to finish second at the 2025 World Championships.