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Few elite athletes on the TCS London Marathon start line on Sunday (April 23) have a back story as dramatic as Tedu Teshome.<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old almost lost her leg after sustaining injuries during a freak storm when she was seven years old. Doctors suggested amputation but her mother insisted on treating her with traditional medicines instead.<\/p>\n
Her mother\u2019s instincts turned out to be right as Teshome has turned into one of her nation\u2019s best endurance runners. At the Valencia Marathon in December she clocked 2:17:36 to finish fourth \u2013 a time that places her 14th on the world all-time rankings \u2013 and she will be one of the leading contenders for a podium place in London this weekend.<\/p>\n
Reporting for Sports Network Africa<\/a>, athletics writer Stephen Granger says Teshome was sleeping in the Sidama region of Ethiopia 14 years ago when a heavy storm suddenly caused the thatched roof of her home to disintegrate.<\/p>\n Granger writes: \u201cSuddenly she felt herself being swept away by a swirling torrent which now surged through their hut. Helpless and traumatised, she was barely conscious as the rushing waters tossed and tumbled her into the adjacent forest.\u201d<\/p>\n Teshome\u2019s clothing was luckily snared by a branch, which prevented her from being swept away further. But she was left with bad injuries.<\/p>\n \u201cDoctors advised amputation of her leg to save her life,\u201d writes Granger. \u201cBut her mother refused, leaning on traditional medicines to heal her young daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n Teshome went on to run 2:23:53 on her marathon debut in 2021 before improving by more than six minutes in Valencia. At half-marathon, meanwhile, she ran 66:13 to win in Copenhagen last year.<\/p>\n \u201cI am confident of making the team for the Paris Olympics, either for the 10 000m or the marathon,\u201d she told Sports Network Africa, \u201cbut the fight is now on to qualify for the Ethiopian team for the marathon at the World Championships.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00bb <\/i><\/b>Subscribe to AW magazine <\/i>here<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n