Abebe Bikila

Profession: Marathon Runner

Nationality:

Biography: Abebe Bikila was an Ethiopian marathon runner renowned for winning two Olympic marathons in a row. Bikila is regarded as a national hero in Ethiopia, as Africa's first world record breaking athlete in any sport and the first sub-Saharan African Olympic gold medallist.

Bikila was born in the small village of Jato and relocated to Addis Ababa in the early 1950s where joined the Ethiopian Imperial Guard. He subsequently began his athletic career under the guidance of Swedish coach Onni Niskanen.

His breakthrough moment came at the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he won the marathon barefoot. Bikila had entered the Olympics with a new pair of poorly fitted running shoes. Forgoing them due to the blisters they incurred, Bikila ran the marathon barefoot, breaking the world record with a time of 2 hours 15 minutes 16.2 seconds.

Four years later, at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he triumphed again, this time wearing shoes and establishing another world record just weeks after an appendectomy. His marathon career, however, was abruptly ended following a catastrophic car accident in 1969, which resulted in quadriplegia. Despite this life-altering event, Abebe went on to compete in archery and table tennis at events for disabled athletes.

Over the course of his athletic career, Abebe competed in 16 marathons and claimed victory in 12 of them. His repeated successes brought him into the orbit of influential figures, including Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie.

Born: August 7, 1932
Birthplace: Jato, Ethiopian Empire

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Leo

Died: October 25, 1973 (aged 41)
Cause of Death: Brain hemorrhage