Mert Girmalegesse, formerly Shimelis Girma (Amharic), then Selim Bayrak (Turkish)Naturalized Turkish Sportspeople (born November 30, 1987), is an Ethiopian-born Turkish middle and long distance track and field athlete, running in the disciplines of 3000 m, 5000 m and also 10000 m.
Personal life Born and raised in Ethiopia, he transferred to Turkey for an amount of US$1 million. On May 15, 2008, he received Turkish citizenship and changed his name to Selim Bayrak. Two years later, he took the name Mert and changed his surname to Gırmalegese, his family's name in Ethiopia. For the reason of the repeated name change he stated that he wants to safeguard interests in his country of origin.
Sports career In 2008, he won the 5000 m at the 2008 European Cup First League group B competitions in Istanbul. In the same year he was third at the European Cross Country Championships in his own age category of men under 23 years (U23).
He finished eleventh in the 10000 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing with 27:29.33 and did not start in the 5000 m qualification heat 3.
In 2009, he won the 10000 m at the 2009 European Athletics U23 Championships in Kaunas and also won bronze in the 10000 m at the 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara.
At the 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships he competed in 3000 m and finished fifth in Turin.
He is a member of the Fenerbahçe S.K. athletics club.Selim signed for Fenerbahce
Personal bests Discipline Performance Place Date1 mile4:00:58Istanbul, TurkeyJune 7, 20083000 m7:45:46 NRTurin, ItalyMarch 7, 20095000 m13:26:14 NRİzmir, TurkeyJune 4, 200810000 m27:29:31NRBeijing, ChinaAugust 17, 2008 NR National record Personal best from iaaf.org
Performance progression Discipline Season Performance Place Date1 mile20084:00:58Istanbul, TurkeyJune 7, 20083000 m20097:45:46Turin, ItalyMarch 7, 20095000 m200813:26:14İzmir, TurkeyJune 4, 20085000 m200913:55:61Bursa, TurkeyJune 9, 20098000 m200825:17Brussels, BelgiumDecember 14, 200810000 m200827:45:75Istanbul, TurkeyApril 12, 200810000 m200827:29:31Beijing, ChinaAugust 17, 200810000 m200929:36:29Pescara, ItalyJuly 2, 200910000 m200929:47:15Kaunas, LithuaniaJuly 19, 2009 Personal progression from iaaf.org
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