In pursuit of the shiny medal,Mimi strives to exorcise ghosts of London

Born into a farming family in Ethiopia,Belete’s family grew a number of tropical vegetables. In 2007,due to growing violent political unrest,the family decided the seek asylum in Belgium. It was in Belgium that Belete and her sister Almenesh,began running.

Belete’s Ethiopian genetics and an hitherto undiscovered talent for running ensured that she won races in the European country for fun. “I really started enjoying running in Belgium. I won the Eurocross (cross-country) competition in 2009 and that victory gave me belief that I could be quite competitive at this level,” she says.

In 2009,with her request for asylum in Belgium pending,Belete decided to shift to Bahrain. After she moved to Bahrain,Belete and Olympic bronze medallist,Maryam Yusuf Jamal,won the silver and gold at their first international meet respectively. Since then,the dreadlocks-sporting Belete has won the 5000m Asian Games gold medal and also the 1500m bronze at the same event. Interestingly,Belete’s sister,Almenesh runs for Belgium after her asylum request was granted.

Having secured qualification for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Moscow in August,Belete says that a medal there would be a just reward after suffering heart-break in London. “I am training hard for the World Championships. I think I am at a point in my career where I have to push myself that extra mile and If I manage to do that I will definitely get the rewards,” she says.

Belete who is coached by her husband says that her ultimate goal is to exorcise the ghosts of London at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. “Every athlete,whether big or small,dreams of an Olympic medal. I am no different and I am constantly thinking about that shiny medal,” she says.