Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, considered as the greatest long distance runner of all time, has shocked the world by announcing that he would retire from the sport soon after he pulled out of the New York marathon due to knee injury. His retirement announcement was among the top lead stories on television on Sunday. Now a day after his stunning announcement, pundits and fans hope that the emperor will reconsider his decision. According to NYT, Haile's Netherlands based longtime manager and agent, Jos Hermens, said he believed Gebrselassie would take time to reflect and would very likely reconsider his decision. Read some of the reactions from fans about his announcement from the New York Times.

After digesting the news for a day, many hope that Haile will reconsider. The Telegraph writes, Haile Gebrselassie could reverse shock decision to retire from competitive racing according to close confidants of Haile.

David Bedford, the race director of the London Marathon who attended Sunday’s race, said:

“I understand from talking to people close to him that he was very upset at having to drop out of the race and his reaction was clearly understandable.

"But I believe that when he has calmed down and taken a longer-term look of his future over the next 48 hours, he will take a different view about whether this was his last race. I don’t believe that we have seen the last of him.

"I can’t believe that, after such an incredible career, he would want to go out in a race he failed to finish.”

(CNN) -- Former Olympic medallist Brendan Foster has told CNN he will try to persuade Haile Gebrselassie to stay in athletics after the Ethiopian distance runner announced his shock retirement.

The marathon world record holder, who won Olympic gold in the 10,000 meters in Atlanta and Sydney, said he was quitting the sport after dropping out of Sunday's New York marathon with a knee injury.

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Wanjiru saddened by Gebrselassie's retirement

Count Kenya's Sammy Wanjiru among those stunned by the sudden retirement of marathon world-record holder Haile Gebrselassie. The torch has officially been passed to the Beijing Olympic gold medalist but he still longs for a showdown with his role model.

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"I didn't know about it until people started coming up to me this morning and asking me about it," Wanjiru said. "I don't know if he said that because he was mad that he had to drop out of the race or if he really means it."

"He is a role model for all of Africa," Wanjiru said. "This entire generation, whether in Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, look up to him because Haile ran many years, and he won many races at many distances. He is a great champion. Since I was in high school, he was the runner I looked up to."

"Before he gets out of training, I hope that he comes back one more time because I want to run against him," Wanjiru said. "I need him to come back again, only to run one.

First Posted on NAZRET.com