Sileshi Sihine (Amharic: áµáÂÂẠáµá áÂÂ; born 29 January 1983) is an Ethiopian retired long-distance runner. He is currently the president of the Ethiopian Athletic Federation since 2024, holding the title twice after serving from 2015 to 2016.
Sileshi won silver medals in the 10,000 metres at both the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as at the 2005 World Championships and 2007 World Championships as well as a bronze medal in 2003. He also picked up a silver medal in the 5,000 m event at the 2005 World Championships.
Sileshi began running at school, inspired by the achievements of compatriot Haile Gebrselassie.
After success at the junior level, he emerged as a leading senior athlete.
In cross country, he won the Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños in 2002 and 2003.
Sileshi was one of three Ethiopians, along with Kenenisa Bekele and Gebrselassie, who swept the 10,000 metres gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2003 World Championships in Paris. Sihine then won the 10,000 metres at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games.
Sileshi won a bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships. He also won a silver medal in the 10,000 metres at the Summer Olympic Gamess in Athens, behind Bekele.
Sileshi won a silver medal in the 10,000 metres, behind Bekele, and the silver medal in the 5,000 metres at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.
At the World Cross Country Championships, Sileshi finished second behind Bekele.
At the World Championships in Osaka, Sileshi took the silver medal in the 10,000 metres, again finishing behind Bekele.
He yet again took a silver medal in the 10,000 metres behind Bekele at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
In May, Sileshi finished fifth in the 5000 metres at the Samsung DL Golden Gala in Rome, Italy.
Nine days later at the Prefontaine Classic 10,000 metres in Eugene, Oregon, he finished in sixth place, 6.27 seconds behind winner Mohamed Farah.
Sileshi attempted his first marathon race at the Amsterdam Marathon, but dropped out after 36 kilometres.
On 7 June, Sileshi finished seventh in the 5000 metres at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway. Two weeks later at a 10 kilometre road race in Birmingham, U.K., Sihine finished fourth, just 1.06 seconds behind Bekele, the winner.
In February, he was elected president of the newly formed Ethiopian Athletics Association.
On 22 December 2024, he was reelected as the Ethiopian Athletics Association, succeeding Derartu Tulu, at 28th General Assembly of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation. Tulu's replacement was due to heavy backlash at the federation during the 2024 Paris Olympic.
In 2008, Sileshi is married to three-time Olympic champion athlete Tirunesh Dibaba. Their wedding was broadcast live on national television.
The following are his personal bests: