In 2012 , Haile ran in the Tokyo Marathon and , after surging to the lead and putting a gap on the field with 6 km to go , faded and finished in 4th , in a time of 2:08:17 . However , he bounced back to win the Vienna Half Marathon in 1:00:52 , catching Paula Radcliffe who was given a 7:52-minute head-start . He was not selected for the Olympic marathon team , but after winning the Great Manchester Run with a fast time of 27:39 , beating marathon world record holder Patrick Makau , world marathon leader Ayele Abshero and Olympic marathon medallist Tsegay Kebede , by a distance of over 100 metres , he decided to aim for a place in the 10,000 m race . He attempted to earn an Olympic spot at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo , the stadium in which he had broken four world records . However , in extremely hot weather he finished seventh with a time of 27:20.39 , sixth amongst Ethiopians , and did not qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics . However , he did appear at the opening ceremony as one of the eight flagbearers who brought the Olympic flag into the stadium . Another outing at the Fukuoka Marathon , however , saw him enter as favourite but drop out at 32 km
opening ceremony
2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony
Haile Gebrselassie