The 24-year-old Ethiopian is establishing herself as one of the best athletes of her generation. In July she broke the 1,500 metres world record, which had stood since 1993 and been considered virtually unbeatable. She followed this in the World Championships in Beijing with a gold medal at 1,500 metres and a bronze at 5,000 metres. Her 2015 achievements were honoured when she won the IAAF's Female Athlete of the Year award. This follows on from 2014 when she broke three world records in two weeks – a feat only achieved by Jesse Owens and Usain Bolt - and was presented with the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award.