Miruts Yifter

Miruts Yifter

Yifter (#191), Nyambui (#649), and Maaninka (#208) at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Personal information
Nationality	Ethiopian
Born	(1944-05-15)15 May 1944 Adigrat, Ethiopia
Died	22 December 2016(2016-12-22) (aged 72) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sport
Sport	Track
Event(s)	5000 m, 10,000 m
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	5000 m: 13:13.82 10,000 m: 27:40.96
Medal record Men's Athletics Representing  Ethiopia Olympic Games 1980 Moscow 5000 metres 1980 Moscow 10,000 metres 1972 Munich 10,000 metres All-Africa Games 1973 Lagos 10,000 metres 1973 Lagos 5000 metres Representing Africa IAAF World Cup 1977 Düsseldorf 5000 metres 1977 Düsseldorf 10,000 metres 1979 Montreal 5000 metres 1979 Montreal 10,000 metres

Miruts Yifter (Amharic: ምሩፅ ይፍጠር, affectionately known as "Yifter the Shifter") (15 May 1944 – 22 December 2016) was an Ethiopian athlete and winner of two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics. His date of birth is often given as 15 May 1944, though there is some uncertainty about this. His name is also sometimes spelled as Muruse Yefter.

Born in Adigrat, in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, Yifter spent early parts of his youth working in different factories and as a carriage driver. His talent as a long-distance runner was noticed when he joined the Ethiopian Air Force.

Yifter was called to the Ethiopian national team for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, but he made his Olympic debut four years later in Munich Olympics where he won a bronze medal in 10,000 metres. However, he arrived too late for the 5000 metres final.

In the 1973 All-Africa Games he won one gold medal (10,000 m) and one silver (5000 m). At the 1st African Championships in 1979 he won two gold medals (5000 and 10,000 metres).

Yifter was unable to participate in the 1976 Summer Olympics because his nation boycotted the event. Four years later in Moscow, Yifter made up for his disappointments. In the final of the 10,000 m he sprinted into the lead 300 m from the finish and won by ten metres. Five days later, in the 5000 m final, Yifter was boxed in during the last lap. But with 300 m to go, his Ethiopian teammate, Mohamed Kedir, stepped aside and Yifter again sprinted to victory. Due to his abrupt change in speed when executing his kick to the finish, Yifter acquired the nickname "Yifter the Shifter."