Abebe Bikila: The Barefoot Marathoner

Anton

Abebe Bikila was an Ethiopian marathon runner who is considered one of the greatest marathoners of all time. He is the first Ethiopian Olympic gold medalist, winning his and Africa's first gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome while running barefoot. He also won the gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, becoming the first athlete to successfully de

Bikila was born in Jato, Ethiopia, in 1932. He was a shepherd as a child and began running as a way to get around. He joined the Ethiopian Imperial Bodyguard in 1959 and began training for long-distance running.

In 1960, Bikila qualified for the Ethiopian team in the marathon at the Rome Olympics. He decided to run barefoot because he felt that it would give him a better feel for the ground. He went on to win the race in a world record time of 2:15:16.

Bikila's victory in Rome was a major upset. He was not considered a favorite to win the race, and his barefoot running style was seen as unorthodox. However, his performance inspired many people in Africa and around the world.

Bikila successfully defended his Olympic title in 1964, winning the marathon in Tokyo in a time of 2:12:11. He became the first athlete to win two Olympic marathons.

Bikila retired from running in 1969. He was later paralyzed in a car accident and died in 1973 at the age of 41.

Bikila is considered a national hero in Ethiopia. He is remembered for his barefoot running style and his inspiring victory at the 1960 Olympics. He is also credited with helping to popularize long-distance running in Africa

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