Genzebe Dibaba, one of five running sisters from Ethiopia, narrowly missed her 1500-meter world record at the Hallenmeeting in Karlsruhe. For cheering in the audience but also provided a young German athlete.

Karlsruhe – World records are her passion. Genzebe Dibaba has already set seven of these records on the 1,500 to 5,000 meter courses and has long since become one of the big stars of world athletics. “It’s a great feeling that I’ve become a role model with my performances in Ethiopia,” says the 26-year-old in the morning after the Karlsruhe indoor meeting.

With 3: 57.45 minutes over 1500 meters Dibaba set the international highlight on Saturday night in front of 4500 spectators with the second fastest time ever in the hall. Just over two seconds, she remained above her own world record of 3: 55.17 minutes – four years ago run in the Karlsruhe Europahalle. “Karlsruhe is a very good place for me,” says Dibaba with a smile on his face, “I get a lot of support here, it has a great atmosphere.” The first 800 meters were a bit too slow, she says, otherwise she would have her Implement world record projects.

The five sisters have been born in the cradle

“There are many runners in the world, but none like the Dibabas,” said Ethiopian runner legend Haile Gebreslassie of the fastest family on the planet. Five sisters have gotten into the cradle: Ejegaybu (32), Tirunesh (32), Genzebe (26), Anna (21) and Melat (18). 14 World Cup medals and five Olympic medals, including three Olympic victories, have made Tirunesh the female counterpart of Haile Gebrselassie. Also the double olympia winner Derartu Tulu, cousin of Dibabas, belongs to this runner dynasty.

“With his success, Haile Gebreselassie is the model for us in Ethiopia,” says Anna Dibaba. To have so many successful sisters in the family – that is a great motivation to become a successful athlete. The philosophy on the way there is on the sign at the office of their coach Sentayehu Esthetu under the national flag: “The athletes must train hard, respect each other, work together as a team and honor their homeland.” The runner country Ethiopia.

The low last year has been overcome by Genzebe Dibaba

For the past two years, the throne of Genzebe Dibaba has wiggled. “I had problems with my shin and my back,” she explains. So she was at the World Championships in London in the 1500 meter final final and canceled her 5000 meter start. “High and low are part of the sport,” she says. In the meantime, she has ticked off this phase.

For the next race on Thursday in Madrid, the runner, who spins up to 200 kilometers per week in training, has a clear goal in mind: the next world record. Three times in a row Dibaba was already indoor world champion. In early March she wants to follow in Birmingham the fourth world title. And because there are no major international championships this year, their record-breaking campaign continues in the summer. The Lauffloh (1.68 meters, 52 kilos) wants to crack the 5000-meter world record of her sister Tirunesh (14: 11.15 minutes from 2008).