Feyisa Lilesa

Born :

February 1, 1990

I hope that the day will come when the system will change and all of the people in Ethiopia will have equal rights and I look forward to a day like that where I too can go home and be part of the Ethiopian story.

rights home people

The people of Ethiopia are saying they've had enough of the killings and are tired of being exiled, imprisoned, beaten and we are done. We have had enough. We want peace now.

tired done people

There were times when I was frustrated, and cried and felt helpless, but the reality in Ethiopia is that you don't have much of an option. You either keep quiet or you get added to the list of people being jailed or killed.

frustrated reality people

I want to be a voice for my people and I will continue to protest.

voice want people

What I want people to know about Ethiopia is that it is a country of nations and nationalities. Oromos are the majority. But Oromos have been so good to Ethiopia but have been marginalized for years.

country people years

I have no plans to seek asylum in the U.S. or elsewhere. I have not thought about citizenship. I love my country, the only problem I have is with the government.

government asylums country

People are demanding their rights and not backing down and I hope that change is on the horizon and change will come to Ethiopia soon, so I don't have even go that far to seek a U.S. citizenship.

horizon rights people

In Ethiopia, the problem is that you don't know who's who. You don't know who to trust. You don't have any freedom.

who-to-trust ethiopia problem

I'm trying to be careful as much as I can eating this American food. Burgers are heavy. So, I'm trying to minimize that as much as I can.

burgers eating trying

Sports are my life. It is my life but it's also how I earn a living.

sports

Even if I wanted to run for Ethiopia, I wouldn't expect the government or federation to choose me to do that.

choose-me government running