Tharcisse Gashaka

Tharcisse Gashaka was born on 18 December 1962 in Burundi.^[1] He started competing internationally in the late 1990s, mostly in France. He set personal bests in the one hour run with a distance of 19,844 metres, in the 20K run with 1:00:42, and the marathon with a time of 2:13:45 set at the Puteaux Marathon.^[2]

Gashaka then competed at the Neufchâtel-Hardelot Half Marathon and set a personal best in a time of 1:02:55.^[2] He was selected to be part of the first Burundian team at an Olympic Games, representing Burundi at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. He competed in the men's marathon on 4 August against 123 other competitors. He set a time of 2:32:55 and placed 90th overall.^[3]

After the 1996 Summer Games, he was selected to compete for Burundi at the 1997 Jeux de la Francophonie in Antananarivo, Madagascar. He first competed in the men's 3000 metre steeplechase on 4 September. He set a time of 9:17.80 and placed sixth overall. Two days later, he competed in the men's 10,000 metres and set a time of 29:58.02, earning him the silver medal.^[2][4]