Swiss sportswear brand On has announced the signing of Ethiopian distance runner Freweyni Hailu. The 24-year-old has already established herself as a dominant force in global athletics. She boasts an impressive resume with multiple championship titles and Diamond League victories.
Hailu celebrated a successful debut as an On athlete during the second stop of the Grand Slam Track league in Miami. Racing as one of the challengers in the women’s short distance category, she won the 1500m race on Saturday in 4:06.96 and, after finishing third in the 800m in 1:59.84, claimed the overall Slam title for the Miami meet.
She’s a Tigray native
Hailing from Werie Lehe in the Tigra Region of Ethiopia, Hailu is the seventh child in her family. She started running in a local project called Weri Lekhi. After showing promising talent, she was selected to run for the Mesfin Industrial Engineering Club. From there, she blossomed and was selected to represent the national team, starting in 2018 when she first represented her country on the youth level.
The reigning World Indoor Champion in the 3,000m (Nanjing, China), she also claimed gold in the 1,500m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow. Her achievements mark her as the first Ethiopian athlete to win three medals in three different disciplines at the World Indoor Championships. She also secured silver in the 800m in Belgrade in 2022.
Hailu’s success extends beyond the indoor season. She has consistently performed at the highest level outdoors, securing five Diamond League victories, including wins in the 1500m in Doha (2024), Stockholm and Xiamen (2023), and Lausanne (2021). Her versatility extends to the roads, where she earned a silver medal in the mile (1609m) at the World Road Running Championships in Riga in 2023.
Early successes
Hailu has also demonstrated her competitiveness on the biggest global stages, finishing a close 4th in the 1,500m at both the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games and the 2022 World Outdoor Championships.
Speaking on her decision to join On, Hailu said, “For me, it’s important to partner with a brand that shares my dedication and passion for running, and with On I’ve found that partner. There’s a real energy and focus on helping athletes be their best. I’m excited to train and compete with their support.”
Athlete Manager for On, Niklas Bühner, welcomed her, “We are incredibly proud to have a double World Indoor Champion like Freweyni join the On Team. Her incredible talent, demonstrated by her World Indoor Championship wins and consistent high-level performances, aligns perfectly with On’s commitment to innovation and supporting athletes in reaching their full potential.”
