{UAH} ONLINE ABUSE Ethiopian runner, 16, cruelly mocked by Twitter trolls claiming she’s older and shouldn’t be competing in under-20s race

ONLINE ABUSE 

Ethiopian runner, 16, cruelly mocked by Twitter trolls claiming she's older and shouldn't be competing in under-20s race

Girmawit Gebrzihair, who is taking part in the World Under-20 Championships, was the target of vile abuse and jokes online

By Jon Rogers

13th July 2018, 9:08 pm

Updated: 14th July 2018, 2:27 am

A TEENAGE Ethiopian runner has been cruelly mocked by callous Twitter trolls – simply because they think she looks older than 16.

The abuse started after Girmawit Gebrzihair won the bronze medal in the 5,000m race at the World Under-20 Championships which started today in Tampere, Finland.

Girmawit Gebrzihair of Ethiopia, right, came third in the 5,000m women's race

Despite her stated birth date of November 21, 2001 some on social media didn't believe this and took aim at the teenager.

So far, no one has produced a shred of evidence that her birth date is false.

One cruel commentator wrote: "16? That woman has lived through the American Civil War, two world wars and saw Pele's Brazil lift the 1970 World Cup."

Another said: "That's Benjamin Button's cousin."

A third added: "Is there no other way of controlling these things apart from looking at a passport? It is hard to believe."

Also taking aim at the runner was Spanish sprinter Oscar Husillos, 24.

He tweeted a picture of Gebrzihair with the caption, in Spanish, saying: "Her children and grandchildren are in the stands to see her run in the World U20 Championships."

Husillos has since deleted the tweet and posted a string of messages saying it was taken "out of context" and his words had been "misinterpreted".

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

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