GERMAN SILVA NAMED ABEBE BIKILA AWARD RECIPIENT
By Chris Lotsbom
(c) 2011 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved (Used by permission)

(26-Oct) -- The New York Road Runners announced Tuesday that German Silva, a two-time champion of the ING New York City Marathon, has been named the recipient of the Abebe Bikila Award. The award, named in honor of the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Marathon champion from Ethiopia, honors Silva's commitment to giving back to the community through running.

A native of Mexico, Silva, 43, joins a prestigious list of past winners that includes Grete Waitz, Allan Steinfeld, Fred Lebow, and 2010 recipient Paul Tergat. The award has been presented annually since 1978 to persons who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport of long distance running both on and off the field of play.

"One wrong turn made German famous," said New York Road Runners President and CEO Mary Wittenberg in a statement, referring to Silva's 1994 blunder in which he mistakenly followed a television truck into Central Park. "But it is a whole career of giving back to the community through and with his running that made him a true champion."

Of his many philanthropic achievements, Silva has helped organize running events in small rural communities and has distributed running shoes in his travels throughout Mexico. Currently, the father of two is the head coach at the La Loma high altitude training center in San Luis Potosi; he also coaches many of Mexico's top distance runners, including Pan Am Games Marathon silver medalist Madai Perez.

Silva will receive his award as part of the Marathon Opening Ceremony in Central Park on Friday, November 4, two days before the 42nd running of the ING New York City Marathon.

"Receiving this award causes a lot of emotions," said Silva, a two-time Olympian. "I feel so honored and proud. It awakens a lot of memories and how New York has changed my life forever."