Orphaned by war, the Italian distance runner continues to make waves as he has joined Hellen Obiri in marking a bold new chapter in his record-breaking career.
Orphaned by the Ethiopian war at a young age, Yemaneberhan Crippa has made a significant career move after signing with Swiss sportswear brand On running, joining Hellen Obiri.
Crippa is the reigning Italian record holder in the 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, and half-marathon distances, and signing with the giant brand is a great milestone in his career as he looks to make a mark on the world stage.
His bold move has come at a great time since the 2025 road running season is almost slowly picking up and he will be looking to impress while wearing their collection of super shoes.
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Crippa is not just your typical athlete and on top of being the national record of the four distances, he also won a gold medal at the 2022 European Championships in Munich in the 10,000m.
He also claimed top honours in the half-marathon distance in 2024 at his home European Championships in Rome.
He is also the second fastest Italian to ever run a marathon. This is after he clocked an impressive 2:06.06 at the Sevilla Marathon in 2024.
Upon signing the lucrative deal, Crippa said: “I’m really excited to partner with On, such an innovative and forward-thinking brand that truly understands and supports its athletes. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
Niklas Bühner, Athlete Manager at On, was very elated o have Crippa join the On Team. He added that the Italian is a very talented athlete and a great addition to the team that also has two-time Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri.
“Yeman is an exceptional athlete with an incredible work ethic and a true passion for the sport. His dedication to excellence aligns perfectly with On’s values, and we are confident that he will be a fantastic addition to our team. We are looking forward to supporting him in his journey and dreaming together,” he said.
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Image source: On running
Meanwhile, Crippa was born in Dessie, in north-eastern Ethiopia until the Eritrean-Ethopia war broke his family.
He was orphaned by the war, and he together with some of his brothers and sisters were moved to an orphanage in the capital of Addis Ababa.
At the age of seven, he and five of his siblings were adopted by an Italian couple and moved to a small village in Trent.
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He was originally interested in football but then realised that his running abilities outshone his footballing skills hence putting his energy in running.
He celebrated his international senior debut at the European Championships in Amsterdam in 2018, finishing in eighth place in the 5000m. The Italian will make his official debut for On at the Edreams Barcelona Half Marathon on February 16.
