Abebe Bikila (1932-1973) was an Ethiopian marathon runner and Olympic legend who won back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics:
1960 Rome Olympics
Bikila won his first gold medal while running barefoot, becoming the first Black African to win an Olympic gold medal in the marathon. Bikila’s shoes fell apart days before the race, and he didn’t have any that fit him when he arrived in Rome. He chose to run barefoot, as he had done in training.
1964 Tokyo Olympics
Bikila won his second gold medal, becoming the first athlete to successfully defend an Olympic marathon title. He also set a new world record in the process.
Bikila’s story includes:
Early life
Bikila was the son of a shepherd and worked as a bodyguard for the Ethiopian royal family.
Late addition to the Ethiopian team
Bikila was not originally selected for the 1960 team, but was added at the last minute after Wami Biratu was injured.
Race conditions
The 1960 Rome marathon was held in the evening to avoid the extreme heat of the city. The course was partly lit by torches held by Italian soldiers.
Injuries
Bikila dropped out of the 1968 Tokyo Olympics after 17 miles due to a fractured fibula. In 1969, he was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident.
Post-athletic career
In 1970, Bikila competed in archery and table tennis at the Stoke Mandeville Games, a precursor to the Paralympics.
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