Why should I say I will retire in three or four years? You retire the very moment you utter those words.
My school was six miles away from where I lived on the farm. I had to walk and run, there and back every day, through gorges and over rivers. If I was late, there was a very big stick waiting for me.
I can't change everything by myself but I can be one of the people who are trying to change the situation.
Schooling is so important.
I find the business world hard.
I feel a social responsibility. We need to open people's eyes. There is a lack of education in Ethiopia.
Like some high official, you have to tell your brain: 'Do it. Come on. I have to do it.'
I always tell young athletes the same thing, 'Wherever you go, whatever you do, what must your top priority be? Running.'
In my life I do a lot of things but I never forget my training.
Athletics is in my blood.
I'm a runner first before anything else.
I remember in particular my first victory when I achieved a very fast time in what were perfect conditions but since then the wind has always been a factor against me.
You know the marathon in my country is just exceptional. It's like soccer in England. If England win the world cup and Ethiopia win the marathon - it's the same.
I want to go down in history.
You must do as your people do. If my people are poor, I must be poor. People ask me, 'Why don't you find a personal coach or a private car?' I can't. Then I won't be part of my people.
I wanted to be famous. I wanted people to talk about me.
I'm never satisfied.
I was the kind of child who worked hard every day with the cows and sheep - I was a very aggressive boy.
When I had no shoes I was comfortable - I used to run barefoot. When I wore shoes it was difficult. To run in shoes was ok, but at the beginning of my career it was hard.
Life is a kind of struggle. Life is a sort of fight.
