Haftu Strintzos's remarkable journey from shepherd to marathon record holder
Haftu Strintzos, an Ethiopian-born Australian, has transitioned from a childhood as a shepherd to becoming a national marathon record holder. Adopted by an aid worker, he has achieved significant academic and athletic success after migrating to Melbourne.
Why it matters
His story highlights the transformative power of international aid and migration on individual human potential.
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Australia's men's marathon record holder, Haftu Strintzos, thrives on hard work but still finds it hard to believe where life has taken him.
Born in eastern Tigray in northern Ethiopia, he grew up standing barefoot in fields for hours, helping provide for his family from dawn to dusk.
"I feel as though I have lived a double life in a way," he said after celebrating his 27th birthday in Melbourne.
"I consider myself very privileged to live this life.
In his remote community, 2,300 metres above sea level, the only source of information he had until age 10 was a mobile phone.
Haftu lost both biological parents by the time he was six, and was taken in by his maternal grandmother, living with his aunt and cousins.
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