The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) will present Haile Gebrselassie with the AIMS lifetime achievement award at the AIMS Best Marathon Runner (BMR) awards dinner reception in Athens on 11 November.

Gebrselassie’s career will be recognised on behalf of the AIMS members who represent more than 410 of the world’s leading races from 110 countries and territories, including the BMW Berlin Marathon, a race Gebrselassie won on four consecutive occasions between 2006 and 2009, setting world records in 2007 and 2008.

The Ethiopian, who has been widely referred to as the greatest distance runner in history, has previously earned the AIMS World Athlete of the Year Award in three consecutive years; 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Gebrselassie won two Olympic 10,000m gold medals and nine world titles: four at 10,000m, one at the half marathon and four indoors. On the roads, he won the Berlin, Dubai, Amsterdam and Fukuoka marathons.

Throughout his career he set world records at a variety of distances from the indoor 2000m to the marathon.

“I am very happy that AIMS and their members and sponsors have chosen to honour me in this way,” said Gebrselassie.

“I am looking forward to attending the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Awards Dinner to spend a wonderful night with my friends in the marathon community in the home of the marathon, Athens, Greece.”

“We are honoured to be able to recognise the achievements of Haile Gebrselassie and his unrivalled contribution to the marathon movement and world sport,” said AIMS President Paco Borao.

“Haile’s success has been an inspiration to so many throughout Africa and around the world and his dedication is an example we can all follow.”