Asgedom first came to prominence in 1990 with his performances at the World Junior Championships in Bulgaria, where he won a gold medal in the 800 metres and claimed a bronze medal in the 1500 metres race.[1] In the same year he was a bronze medalist in the 800 metres at the African Championships in Cairo.[2]
In 1991 he competed in the World Championships, which were held in Tokyo.[3] Soon after he represented Ethiopia at the 1991 All-Africa Games and finished with the silver medal in the 1500 metres.[4]
He came to the United States early in 1992 to attend California's Riverside Community College.[5] In August he got an offer of a scholarship to Wayland Baptist in Texas and spent a week on campus before deciding to decline, due to the lack of a large Ethiopian community, like there was at Riverside.[5]
Asgedom was killed when on 1 September 1992 he was struck by a pickup truck driver while out running on Washington Boulevard in Pico Rivera, California.[5] He died from his injuries at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital, 25 minutes after being hit.[5] His death was ruled a suicide by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.[5] The verdict from the Sheriff's Department was based on the results of an autopsy and witnesses accounts.[5] The truck driver said that Asgedom had been standing facing traffic waiting to cross and made eye contact before he dove in front of the incoming vehicle.[5] Two other witnesses corroborated the claim that Asgedom had jumped in front of the truck.[5]
His coach, Ted Banks, described Asgedom as a "tremendous runner" who with some more experience "had the potential to be an Olympic medal winner".[5]
Ethiopia
