Gashaw Melese Asfaw
![[Photo of Gashaw Melese Asfaw]](http://static.worldmarathonmajors.com/images/athletes/wmm_8083958701211.jpg)
ETHIOPIA
BIRTHDATE:
26 September 1978
PERSONAL BEST:
2:08:03 (Paris, 2006)
WORLD MARATHON MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:
10Apr10 Boston Marathon 6th 2:10:53
20Apr09 Boston Marathon 6th 2:10:44
24Aug08 Olympic Games Marathon, Beijing 7th 2:10:52
21Apr08 Boston Marathon 4th 2:10:47
25Aug07 IAAF World Championships Marathon, Osaka 14th 2:20:58
13Aug05 IAAF World Championships Marathon, Helsinki DNF
26Sep04 real,- Berlin Marathon 8th 2:09:47
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
30Nov08 Shanghai International Marathon 1st 2:09:28
18Jan08 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 9th 2:12:03
15Apr07 Paris International Marathon 2nd 2:09:53
21Jan07 Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2nd 2:12:32
09Apr06 Paris International Marathon 1st 2:08:03
15Jan06 Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 5th 2:14:19
06Nov05 Joon Ang Seoul International Marathon 2nd 2:09:31
10Apr05 Paris International Marathon 3rd 2:09:24
16Jan05 Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 3rd 2:13:59
12Dec04 Addis Ababa City Marathon 1st 2:22:27
04Apr04 Paris International Marathon 4th 2:10:36
09Jan04 Samsung Dubai Marathon 1st 2:12:49
23Mar03 City of Rome Marathon 9th 2:13:52
10Jan03 Samsung Dubai Marathon 2nd 2:10:40
27Oct02 Venice Marathon 8th 2:15:19
CAREER NOTES:
Gashaw Asfaw's finest marathon was in Paris in 2006 when he not only set his lifetime PR of 2:08:03, but won by 48 seconds. At Paris he has also placed second (2007), third (2005) and fourth (2004).
Asfaw was ninth at Dubai in January 2008, a venue where he won in 2004 after a second place the year before. He has also run in Mumbai three times with his best showing a second place in 2007.
At Boston in 2008, he notched his best finish in a World Marathon Major event, capturing fourth place. After placing seventh at the Beijing Olympic Games Marathon, Asfaw set a course record of 2:09:28 in winning the Toray Cup - Shanghai International Marathon in November.
Although primarily a marathoner, Asfaw has run several half-marathons with a PR of 1:02:35 at Lille in 2006.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Asfaw was a soccer player when he was younger. He is a high school graduate and when not training he teaches and coaches upcoming competitive running athletes. He still enjoys playing soccer and likes to watch films.