Derartu Tulu Wins New York Marathon!

Derartu Tulu, became the first Ethiopian woman to win the New York Marathon yesterday! She's an adoptive mom to 4 and bioparent to two children.

Derartu, a member of the Oromo ethnic group, grew up tending cattle in the village of Bekoji in the highlands of Arsi Province. The same village as Kenenisa Bekele, the male running sensation.

Her cousins Ejegayehu, Tirunesh and Genzebe Dibaba are all successful international long-distance runners, continuing the successful athletic history of the Oromo people.

Her victory came 17 years after she became the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 meters at the Barcelona Games. Tulu, who won her second Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, has been carrying the banner for Ethiopian women since 1992. She owns a hotel and has a school named for her in Addis Ababa. The mother of Tsion, 11, and Ruth, 3, Tulu has raised four other children who are now teenagers.