Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay’s world title in the 5,000m is the biggest achievement of her decade-long career, but as she stood on the podium to receive her gold medal last July she was going through a personal crisis. <\/span><\/p>\n The 25-year-old had not spoken to her parents and siblings for months.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tsegay is from Tigray, a region in northern Ethiopia that was the epicentre of the country’s recent civil war between November 2020 and November 2022, with government troops battling Tigrayan forces fighting for independence.<\/span><\/p>\n The conflict claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, making it one of the deadliest of the 21st century. <\/span><\/p>\n As it began, the roads to Tigray were closed and a government-enforced communication blackout shut down telephone and internet services.<\/span><\/p>\n “Not being able to talk to a father and brothers who had been advising you to strive and achieve more success every day is very difficult. It is even hard to explain,” Tsegay told BBC Sport Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n “I didn’t talk to them for 18 months.”<\/span><\/p>\n Despite the separation and anxiety, Tsegay continued training in the country’s capital Addis Ababa with her husband, who is also her coach, Hiluf Yihdego – her pillar of strength during a difficult period. <\/span><\/p>\n “He is my husband at home and coach in the field. He helped me a lot when I was sad, he was right by my side,” says Tsegay.<\/span><\/p>\n Their hard work paid off in last year’s major competitions. On top of the outdoor world title claimed in Eugene, Oregon, she also claimed a first indoor world title in the 1500m. <\/span><\/p>\n “I am successful because I worked hard despite all the challenges. I celebrated my achievements with my husband and friends.”<\/span><\/p>\n “For an athlete to consider oneself successful it is to win the Olympics and World Championships – that was my dream and I achieved it.”<\/span><\/p>\n After crossing the finish line to claim her world title in Eugene, Tsegay was hoisted into the air by a man who had invaded the track carrying a red and yellow flag, a symbol of the Tigray region.<\/span><\/p>\n He was part of a group that marched around the venue, Hayward Field, after the race in a bid to raise awareness of the war. <\/span><\/p>\n That was in the United States – but the conflict had come to Tsegay’s own doorstep.<\/span><\/p>\n Late one night in December 2021, Tsegay and her husband were woken from their sleep by government forces who took Yihdego away. <\/span><\/p>\n More than a year on, she tearfully recalls the terror from that night. <\/span><\/p>\n “It was a very painful experience because I never thought this would happen as I am an athlete. We only know sport, not politics.<\/span><\/p>\n “I cried the whole night. I was worried they would come back to take me whenever there was a knock on the door.”<\/span><\/p>\n Unable to focus properly, in February 2022 the indoor specialist cancelled a race in France, one that had been earmarked for something special.<\/span><\/p>\n “I was getting ready to run a world record and I was in good form,” Tsegay explains. <\/span><\/p>\n Yihdego was released after a day but he says it was a frightening experience as soldiers claimed he was ‘junta’, a term used by government forces for Tigrayan fighters and anyone working with them. <\/span><\/p>\n “Twenty soldiers came to my house in the middle of the night,” he told BBC Sport Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n “They accused me of supporting the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, sending Tigrayan athletes abroad, and storing dollars at home. <\/span><\/p>\n “They searched my house; it seems easy to speak about it now but it was challenging.”<\/span><\/p>\n The couple say they are glad the ordeal is behind them.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/074E\/production\/_129107810_ethiopiawarsmall.jpg\")
<\/span><\/span>The struggle for success on the track<\/h3>\n
![\"Protestor](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/114D6\/production\/_129107807_tigrayprotestersmall.jpg\")
<\/span><\/span>Terror in the night<\/h3>\n
![\"Gudaf](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/BEF9\/production\/_129098884_gudafandcoach3.jpg\")
<\/span><\/span>Wait goes on despite peace deal<\/h3>\n