Tokyo 1964 Olympic Marathon | Marathon Week

[@amensisa3648]

Abebe is the first African to win the Olympic marathon, he won the marathon race bare footed. He is a World Icon. 🇪🇹⚔️🇪🇹

[@kenyamendez7710]

Se ve medio mañoso al sonarse varias veces la narizita

[@yaballo1]

@Not just he won the first marathon race for African/s but, Abbebee Biqilaa won the first ever Olympic medal of [any colour] for Africa.

[@yaknbo]

I am an old marathoner. About an hour slower than Bikila. He and Wolde are to this day two of my heroes.

[@እስፉንተነፀርኩ]

Wow you are lucky!

[@NoRockinMansLand]

Wow, what a legend 👏❤

[@aemiroaddis7433]

Long live

[@freultwah]

You mean Abebe and Mamo. Bikila and Wolde were their fathers.

[@yaknbo]

@@freultwahthanks

[@melesegirmaye9682]

We will never forget you, our hero. We are working hard to maintain your legacy. Rest in eternal peace! 🇪🇹

[@betateta4442]

አበበ ቢቂላ የኛ ጀግና, ሁሌም በኢትዮጵያ ታሪክ ሲታወስ ይኖራል ❤️ በጣም አናመሰግናለን ለዚህ አስገራሚ ቪደኦ ::

[@kesharisuthar3268]

ABEBE BIKILA is the finest marathon runner ever. He won two consecutive olympic marathon races. Just see his sheer determination, single minded devotion and huge internal confidence. He inspired subsequent generations of middle & long distance runners from Ethiopia and other countries of Africa. A big salute to BIKILA. The video is a great pleasure to watch. 👌👌👌👍👍👍

[@SergeLabelle]

The Tokyo 1964 documentary is pure cinematic delight. And the music, soundtrack!

[@ngeikatumo5729]

Yea, Its just more than a Marathon, it depicts the growth of the society in a cinematic manner

[@tilethio]

You telling me! The quality of the video, the music, the opening and closing events all spectacular. It is some thing to be preserved as history for generations to come.

[@amnotlisa]

this from movie tokyo olympic game by ichikawa kon famous japanese movie director

[@freultwah]

Similar films exist about the 1956 Melbourne and 1968 Mexico games. Splendid stuff, both of them.

[@pragmatistyouth1774]

Abebe Bikila was a soldier and served in the Ethiopian Armed Forces. Being a soldier obviously it worked in his favour as the training in the boot champ involved a lot of running and even competitions were held regularly and that is what propelled him to international stage. At a time when professional Athletes didn't exist, the reward / incentive for winning Olympic was nothing compared to now days. This is why Abebe Bikila is a true legend especially for winning the 1960 Olympic marathon on barefoot which I don't think we will ever see any athlete doing the same. RIP Abebe Bikila!!

[@Aman-sb5pi]

Our athletes win every other Olympic since then but never felt this proud! 💪🏿🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹✊🏿

[@allgoo1964]

Abebe, still to this day, is a very special athlete.

[@chjjfhhh7829]

ETHIOPIA Abebe bikiela 🇪🇹❤

[@fmshyanguya5351]

Legend!

[@annettebertora4434]

The best ever!!!!!!

[@yogistanu55]

The Greatest distance Runner in History...A Legend!! I was 9 when he won in Tokyo!!

[@infinategamingfifa17andmob46]

Matthew MacMillen you are not 52

[@yogistanu55]

No I'm 61!

[@infinategamingfifa17andmob46]

Matthew MacMillen yup

[@danielacontreras6903]

Matthew MacMillen and

[@lucywamucii3217]

Matthew MacMillen my mum was not born😂😂😂😂

[@endalkmekonen]

A shocking pulsed waves resonates in my body and almost make me cry every time I see Abebe Bikila. Our pioner, symbol, blood of Our blood: Africa's first ever Gold medalist ..... man i have no words! This man's picture is supposed to be always with our Flag Green-Yellow-Red. Long live proud Ethiopia, thanks to your amazing children.

[@theconfusedoromo5361]

UNFORTUNATELY WHEN OROMO MAN BRINGS GOLD YOU PROUD, WHEN HE SAYS I AM OROMO YOU ALL OPEN WAR ON HIM.

[@terrynjamiu908]

Well said

[@theconfusedoromo5361]

@First Name Last Name i am Oromo, i we never palyed victim, that is habashas culture. i stated facts.

[@lash50820]

Thank you!

[@fes592]

You are always reminded Abebe Bikila. No words can explain your discipline and bravery. True Ethiopian hero.

[@pangrac1]

There is nothing best than film footage of historical moments shot by professional filmakers. No TV broadcasting can compete with this. This is top notch. 👌

[@soulight8205]

9:01 - 11:25 those footages look almost unreal for something that’s been shot 60 yrs ago!! We could even see the sweat drops falling from Abebe’s head 😮

[@khannaawolhassen1317]

our hero የኛ ጀግና ስምህ ከመቃብር በላይ ነው ሁሌም በልባችን ነህ። ነፍስህን ይማር የኛ እንቁ

[@KhalidMNur]

My favorite Athlete of all time.The legendary ABEBE BIKILA.

[@timkjazz]

Abebe Bikila basically led the entire race, amazing.

[@indignadoindignado7506]

SE OLHAR O INICIO DO VIDEO DENTRO DO ESTADIO ELE ESTA POR ULTIMO SABIA DO SEU POTENCIAL , NAO PRECISAVA FICAR NA FRENTE ERA 42 KM E NAO 42 METROS. KKKKK

[@abdulhafizkedir5712]

He is just like that!!

[@Amber-nd5zk]

True and beautiful.. it makes me emotional..

[@tilethio]

That part of this video (starting 9:48) texactly tells the secret of his victory. He never changes his pace, he had huge endurance and determined to win. He knows he came to win this race not just to finish. Such an all time hero.

[@leanajo754]

Just like Joan Benoit did in the 1984 Olympics. What amazing endurance and stamina they both had, to lead the pack during most of the race. Amazing!

[@Gee-25-]

Wow amazing! Rest in heaven Abebe Bikila. #1

[@gemirum2608]

look at him how he was look strong at end woow proud to his country.

[@hello3623]

He was bare foot...at the time

[@BA-nq5hn]

He run barefoot in at the Rome Olympics four years prior

[@dawitbeemjage5066]

Thank you

[@yohanesasefa2449]

Yeah we ethiopians always proud of him

[@arontesfay2520]

What makes Abebe Bikila the greatest of them all is that he did not need the right conditions to do wonders. He could win in a world record time barefoot on cobblestone or under an unbelievable combination of heat and humidity.

[@yaknbo]

Yes. Example is everything to the human race. His was the nonpareil.

[@joshhodkinson9305]

I think he was one of the most influential runners of all time. He really made a lasting impact on the sport.

[@bircruz555]

Abebe Bikila is endearingly called Abe in his native tradition. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan was keen on making the point when he traveled on a state visit to his name sake's land (Ethiopia) a few years ago. He was a youngster then, a 10 year old, growing up in Japan, and the way he tells the story, the athlete had left a deep impression on him. I can see why.

[@johnrogan9420]

Also has the coolest name ever!

[@anthonybailey8317]

The greatest marathoner of them all, bar none !!!

[@robinbauer1975]

Not of all time Kipchoge is topping him by a long shot

[@jonahmagut2191]

Great legend... He not only inspired Ethiopians but the whole eastern Africa community ... He was very much strong at his era... His heroics will ever remain as he his missed by the new generation of marathoners... Rip Abebe.

[@nathanman6847]

The person who dared to run a marathon without shoe. History will remember forever!!! RIP

[@johnokach6109]

haha he wore white shoes dude

[@davidmendy2879]

Indeed

[@yeegziabihererdata4341]

@@johnokach6109 you should check out the race where he wone a marathone bare foot, that's what the guy is talking about

[@rasdashentube4566]

@@johnokach6109 He's not wearing shoes Check the Rome Olympics.

[@greenhornet8262]

John Okach he ran barefoot in the previous Olympics and won

[@kalethiopiyawit1656]

የኛ ጀግና ነብሰህን ይማረው 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 R.I.P

[@tsionworku2570]

Kalkidan Love ሁሉም ይወለዳል ይኖራል የልፋል ሁላችንም አላፊ ነን

[@holyholy4476]

Kalkidan Love ግር

[@holyholy4476]

Tsion Worku ህስፕስ

[@lucywamucii3217]

Kalkidan Love he died?😣😣😣😣

[@lucywamucii3217]

Kalkidan Love his face look same Haile selasie

[@lightknight219]

Kokichi Tsuburaya (the 3rd place) had a sad ending after that marathon, he looks sad after finish the race, because he considered that he dishonored his country after losing the second place, and he thought that, to be forgiven, he had to win the Mexico City marathon in 1968. He began to train all those years to win, unfortunately he suffered an injury in january, 1968, and he killed himself after knowing that he wouldn't be able to run the marathon. That was a sad story and I felt sad for him after hear that story.

[@JoseRodriguez-qc5jr]

Danilo wow why Japanese people take things so dam serious and do such an horrible thing is only a race,amazing only in 🇯🇵 😞

[@JoseRodriguez-qc5jr]

Thank you for sharing the story, I was 12 and still remember watching this race with grandpa 👴 and have never miss a Olympic Marathon ever 👋🏻 gby 🙏

[@Slayer-yy4tz]

It was also due to the people coaching him to force him to run even though he had an Achilles’ tendon problem even during this race he had it and by 1968 he couldn’t take it anymore and committed suicide

[@amiruddinmrx1796]

Commit suicide is not best solution, even bronze, he is one of the best

[@worriestrouble2606]

Death before dishonour

[@nathanayele8960]

Abebe Bikila represented my country very well! Still to this day, Ethiopia is known for it's long distance runners!

[@Amber-nd5zk]

He represented the entire black race... he was a continental representative

[@Amber-nd5zk]

The man was a continental figure not a national figure.. stop it.

[@nathanayele8960]

@@Amber-nd5zk He may have represented the entire black race, but just so you know his jersey and allegiance is to the Ethiopian nation ❤️

[@colleenross8752]

So is Kenya

[@johnrogan9420]

Love the hospitality of the Japanese officials and medical personnel...so refined and gracious!

[@theouterlimits7788]

Every Ethiopian know abebe bekila. He is the epidemy of long distance running. His very name resonates throughout history as the greatest who ever done it.

[@lrn2-lrn224]

Abebe Bikila is a HERO TO THE WHOLE PLANET EARTH AND HUMANITY ✅

[@GeorgeRon]

The tragic music piece playing at the finish as the runners came in just spectacular. Stunning visuals too.

[@mesfintsadiku]

What a great athlete! Glorious time for Ethiopia, winning 3 Olympic marathons in a row, 1960, 1964 by Abebe, 1968 by Wolde!

[@kedirassefa16]

He put us all Ethiopan proudly at global stage twice . We can’t pay him price for ever because such heroic act of patriot priceless.Some times I feel that he is the one who put Ethiopia on global map

[@MaMa-ck4wk]

You are our hero I am proud my for you i am from Ethiopian

[@annacostas1824]

The best all times The great Abebe Bikila

[@johnrogan9420]

Love his stretches after race finishes!

[@justinbenatomg4449]

He finished 2 hours and 12 minutes in 1964. Today the record remains at 2 hours and 1 min with only 11 minutes improvement in 56 years. I am sure, Abebe could have won with faster time had any body cared for records by then.

[@melesnegash7413]

Justin Ben at OMG absolutely right bro

[@imremonzon7137]

11 minutes over 26.2 miles is a huge difference. Maybe not for 'non-competitive' athletes, but for world record pace. They truly did care about records then, but weren't that fast.

[@markwolfshohl6562]

“Only 11 minutes”? Sir,You do not know anything about the marathon.

[@michaelbiruk4535]

Exactly

[@romuloambay9624]

@@markwolfshohl6562 olympics is a public and worldwide event. .any new records are always recorded and published. .if you were not born by then then sorry for you. .

[@benjiman2089]

Abebe is still hero! there is no one to this day who can make push up after running 42 km!

[@MrDricooh]

Check today record from Kenya

[@bennycei7622]

Kipchoge only

[@tilethio]

@@MrDricooh @John Okach You a brother south of the border? We are talking about 1964 not today. Today you guys take our historical heritage and we are working hard to get it back

[@davidfranciscodasilva9559]

The best marathon runner of all time!

[@lash50820]

Our beloved, Abebe. He will live in our hearts. አበበ እንጂ መቼ ሞተ፡፡

[@krismarais1725]

A childhood hero. Such a beautiful running style. Master marathoner.

[@sosinaesayas7147]

The one and the only to won a Marathon on barefoot. He is a legend. He deserves more respect

[@haileselassie7389]

Ethiopia is the real Wakanda, first they beat there attempted colonizers in war and then beat them in athletics in there own country.

[@eduardoalbertocorrea1448]

Haile Selassie sabes q paso en la maraton del 60´ donde corrió descalzo y gano, durante la prueba pasaba por el OBELISCO DE AXUM, que fuera robado a su país natal x el ejercito italiano en 1937 durante la segunda guerra de ÍTALO-ABISINIA, es una curiosidad q a lo mejor mucha gente no lo sabe.-

[@doralustradora3282]

@@eduardoalbertocorrea1448 Muy buen dato Eduardo, es verdad,... ademas hay que agregar que el entrenador sueco que lo dirigia, le dijo que al pasar por el Obelisco lo recordara y esto le dio mayor impulso emocional para vencer en la carrera. Bonita anecdota. Saludos

[@eduardoalbertocorrea1448]

@@doralustradora3282 gracias compañera, eso del entrenador sueco no lo sabía, hay cosas muy interesante en la vida de ciertas personas es lindo saberlo para meternos en esos tiempos vividos por ellos......

[@rizis2042]

@@eduardoalbertocorrea1448 también estaría bien para cerrar el círculo de esta interesante Historia añadir que en 2008 el obelisco fue devuelto a Etiopia de donde no tuvo que salir . Un saludo . Salud y km

[@Owanango]

Ha ha ha true dat!

[@ababut.tiruneh9504]

His coach said Abebe does not have nerves. He does not panick and is extremely composed onward to the race. So he started the race last, he moved confidently to the front by the half way mark. In what appeared to be a testing weather where all the athletes were struggling, he pulled ahead with a perilious pace. There after it was a solo display of running master piece, that of sheer determination, endurance, huge physical energy and supreme confidence. Abebe is the epitome of heroics and bravery in long distance running.

[@madzmanz8590]

Now the marathon has come so far . Great respect to all the runners.

[@wubshetkassa2752]

What makes me proud, amused and smile is Abebe's finishing line act. He warms up as if there is another race to kick-start. A true Ethiopian spirit. Always ready for the race!!!

[@mohammadosman1544]

The moment the camera focuses on the crowd you realize how fast the athletes are running.

[@ወሎ-የ7ረ]

We never forget you Abebe we love you and we are so proud of you.

[@user-em5vi5eg8w]

I think it's amazing how little we knew about dehydration back then, and only set up three or four water stops in an entire marathon. Nowadays, we have a water stop every few miles

[@lucialucia5159]

edfsh

[@tazebewmola3395]

የነኝህ ጀግኖች ሀገር ዛሬ እንድህ ሆና ማየት ምንኛ ያሳዝናል Rest In Peace our heroes

[@tamertesera8648]

Tazebew Mola ፡ ምን ታረገዋለህ ታሪኩንና አገሩን የማያውቅ አተላ። ተሰብስቦ

[@jbrunning534]

Amazing quality and production. Almost seems like a movie

[@ethiopian1059]

የምንኮራበት ድንቅዬ የኢትዮጵያ ልጅ አበበ በቂላ ታሪክ የማይሽረው ብርቅዬ , የቁርጥ ልጅ :: በሀይሌ ገ/ሥላሴ የተሰየመው መንገድ ይልቅ ለአበበ በቂላ ቢሰየም የተሻለ ነበረ:: ኢትዮጵያ ለዘላለም ትኑር!

[@johnrogan9420]

A black Lee Van Cleef...Abebe Bakila....a perfect stride for this race!...music is perfect!

[@voodoochile80]

Fantastic analogy between two greats. What a great comment

[@ajaxjaiswal3442]

It's like he's the only one running while others were taking snack breaks. Don't hate, just kidding.

[@lucyhenry2372]

LEGEND!!!

[@sabilalmuhtadin717]

I love how he approuching the side of all the struggling and the human side on this Runner like Kon Ichikawa did in this olympics You can see how he use slowmotion on abebe

[@melkamuamera3642]

what makes me funny is the runners at the beginning line setted to start like they are to run 800m. Old times were funny and beloved.

[@asnakefetene2308]

My hero for ever. You are a true legendes for oure country ethiopia, for Africa nation and world nations

[@bete9737]

The Legend!

[@seragena1539]

R.I.P Abebe Bikila our hero. 💚💛❤️

[@tonya2183]

amazing cinematics

[@kidintown1]

Glory to all of them!!

[@tigtigmare65]

We love you. Abebe you are our gift we never forgat your sacrifice

[@jamesball5743]

The Greatest

[@t.d.4755]

A unique man in many ways - seen only once in 100 years. Bikila's gold medal was the first Olympic medal won by a black African. Abebe participated in a total of sixteen marathons, winning twelve. Run barefooted, and won. He also become Africa's first Olympic double-gold medalist and double world-record-breaking athlete. No one else in the world has won two Olympic gold medals in the marathon, while simultaneously breaking the world record! Still, Abebe Bikila and Waldemar Cierpinski are the only athletes to have won two Olympic gold medals in Olympic marathon.

[@BassPlyr23]

T. D. And Cierpinski probably cheated.

[@JoseRodriguez-qc5jr]

Amazing athletes at that time,only a few stops for hydration, now they get all they want , Olympic Spirit ✊🏻

[@TheBurnedFace1Lalibe]

&&&& የአበበ ቢቂላ።&&&& የጥቁር ሕዝብ አልማዝ፣ በሩጫው የላቀ፤ ዓለምን አስንቆ፣ ነጭን ያስደነቀ፤ እምዬ ኢትዮጵያን በምንም ያልካደ፤ ለሥልጣን ለገንዘብ ያላጎበደደ፤ በሙያው ተከብሮ በሕዝብ ሳይጠላ፤ ሥጋ ትል ያልነበር፤ ከገዢ ያልበላ፤ ሐይማኖተ-ፅኑ፣ ለሥጋ ያላደላ፤ ሁሌም ያብብ ሥሙ የአበበ ቢቂላ

[@teshomegebre4075]

አበበ በቂላ የምንም ግዜ ጀግና ነህ ሁሌም ኦሎፒክ ሲታወስ አለምና እምዬ ኢትዮጵያ ሁሌም ልቧ ውስጥ አንተን ውድ ዕንቁዋ ልጇን ትዘክርሀለች ሁሌም ለኢትዮጵያ የምንግዜዋ ጀግና ነህ እንወድሀለን ፈጣሪ ነፍስህን በአፀደ ገነት ያኑርልን አሜን።

[@danieltesfaye7450]

what amazing poem. Thank u Abiy. it is not enough for his excellency the all time hero Abe.

[@hello3623]

Thank you...

[@ፈጣሪየሆይመጨረሻየንአሳም]

Betam

[@medihabesha1541]

Thank you Abiy 💚💛❤

[@katakuri5242]

I like how japan cheers up not just their representatives but the other countries aswell

[@mysticalmargaret6105]

Abebe Bikila = Olympic Legend. 💖💖💖

[@abduljebar2385]

RIP LEGEND We never forget you 🙏🙏

[@bezawitlondon5805]

He is world hero

[@fikresbezabih1039]

he has strength and he’s a brave man ABEBE BIKILA FOR ETHIOPIEN

[@PizzaBurnsRed627]

its kinda cool how he mentions "all the big ones are there" and mentions billy mills when mills was originally unrecognized before his 10k

[@amenmisgana1309]

ዘር በማይቆጠርበት በደጉ ዘመን ኖረው ያለፉ እድለኞች ናቸው። ወደዚህ አስተሳሰብ እንመለስ ይሆን? አንድ ህዝብ ላንድ ኢትዮጵያ ሲሮጥ ዘር ሳይሆን የሚመረጠው ብቃት ብቻ ይሆናል አገሩንም ያስጠራል።

[@ቃልነበር-ሐ3ኀ]

የዛ ትውልድ መስፈርቱ ብቃት ብቻ ዘምናችን ፈጣርይ ያሰብልን

[@ኢትዩጵያውስጤ]

Amen Misgana በትክክል

[@Theresapaysinger-montoya-sl7ww]

I hate that language

[@Agent-qd9oz]

@@Theresapaysinger-montoya-sl7ww

[@yaknbo]

I am an old marathoner. About an hour slower than Bikila. He and Wolde are to this day two of my heroes.

[@こぶたぶひ]

小学生の時テレビで見てました。円谷選手最後ヒートリーに抜かれて3位だったけれど、立派です。よく頑張ったです。

[@Brandtalones]

Finally... here's the guy from Marathon Man.

[@johntechwriter]

Brandtalones Yes, that film clip of a few seconds of Bekila running set the tone for the whole movie.

[@fere201]

Wow amazing runner Abebe is unique

[@dilayehutamrat3869]

Be Ethiopiawnete Beeetam ekoralew! Love🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹

[@amantinkiyyaalubbuukiyyaao8696]

Abebe bikila ILOVE YOU SOMUCH 😭😭😭😭❤❤

[@የደማስቆምርኮኛነኝ-ዠ3ሸ]

@የላቡን ነገር ተይው ብሎ መልሷል ይባላል

[@ethiopiamamaye5591]

@@የደማስቆምርኮኛነኝ-ዠ3ሸ ክክክክክክ

[@tesfayedesalegn5340]

The man who won the Rome olympic marathon barefoot also won at Tokyo.

[@biyyaofi7194]

Abe have a great strength and amazing endurance. we Won italy at home and away by marathon. Abeba bikila was great athlet in history of black African

[@manueldi928]

Wow! Abebe Bikila was quite something! I had heard that after the long Marathon, he did stretching exercises while he waited for the other runners to finish!

[@jean-renecaron9823]

Abebe Bikila has such a powerful stride and a beautiful form. Put him on a pair of Vaporflys just to see what would happen. He would still compete today amongst the best, no doubts about that.

[@BrainyExplains]

13:06 He immediately began to cool down. 😂😂 He was ready for another 42 kilometers. What a King 👑. African legend. 🇪🇷🇪🇷🇪🇷

[@glenabel9251]

...what a kick from Basil Heatley for Silver.

[@billhuntington787]

Buddy Edelen of the US, who was sixth had defeated Heatley many times in England but was slowed by an injury which limited his training prior to Tokyo.

[@yaredkebede8423]

The iron man abebe bikila!!❤ Rip my hero 😭😭😭

[@jogsterman]

RIP Basil Heatley

[@renenoir]

RIP Kokichi Tsuburaya

[@tilethio]

Watching this video takes me to my early school days. Abebe's statue is located at St. Joseph semmintery in Addis which is basically in our neigbourhood (on the road between our house and school). So every day to and from school we cross that semmentery and go around the statue which is surrounded by lots of beautiful shade trees. So we used to climb those trees to get a rest in the middle of our journey. And the guards that watch the statue day and night always used to shout and scare us like a bird. Memories came back after watching this video. Thank you for sharing.

[@seyoumassefa9825]

New all over the time. Thank you Abe our hero.

[@mi_petsilva]

I didn't known about this information in 1964 . It's amazing!

[@rug2024]

I was nostalgic feeling so good mostly.

[@jailsonsantos6500]

Para esse lendário eu tiro o meu chapéu e levou o nome dele em todos os lugares por onde eu passar. Um homem especial!!! História emocionante a dele.

[@mereteworku4437]

Abebe Bikila, legendary man!

[@tamangjamoh4192]

I love this great man wow

[@lisanworkkibralem70]

Abebe Bikila, Ethiopia's all-time hero, will always be remembered in history

[@siwadedumelyayet474]

Abebe image of Ethiopia. Ethiopia the only country won the Olympic 4 ×

[@ayeleolika9131]

abebe bikila is our legend!

[@成清愼]

The great philosopher who runs

[@johnrogan9420]

Very inspirational!!!

[@deportesenvideo]

Un gran momento olímpico , estas historias han inspirado a muchos atletas , excelente resumen

In 1935 it took over 200,000 Fascist Italians not to conquer but to invade and temporarily occupy Ethiopia from 1935-1940. In her 7512 years of national existence, Ethiopia was NEVER Conquered or Colonized by any nation EVER. In 1960 it took only one Ethiopian man to invade Rome and all of Italy. He was, is and will always be the ONE and ONLY, the ETHIOPIAN CHEETAH that won to the shock of many people even barefoot (just like Pheidippidies did in 490BC, the Ethiopian Marathoner did it again in 1960AD in Rome Olympic Games. The first marathon commemorated the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield near the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C. According to legend, Pheidippides ran the approximately 25 miles to announce the defeat of the Persians to some anxious Athenians. Thus, Since the start of Marathon Games itself in ancient Greece about 2510 years ago, this Ethiopian Legendary Marathon Runner was the ONE and ONLY and the FIRST MARATHONER to precisely do the SAME MARATHON THAT THE ORIGINAL GREEK MAN (Pheidippidies) did, namely to run BAREFOOT the entire 36 Kilo Meters (25 miles) and WIN it. He was also, the FIRST to CONSECUTIVELY WIN OLYMPIC MARATHON TWICE IN A ROW as he repeated the same glory of Victory in the TOKYO Olympic Games too in 1964 in front of 75,000 fans and billions of fans worldwide. He is the Imperial Guard of Emperor Haile Sellassie I of Ethiopia, Sergeant ABEBE BEKILA. RIP our ETERNAL HERO, your LEGENDAS LIVES ON and will LIVE FOREVER! Ethiopia has many Legends from the World Famous Queen Sheba of Ethiopia (980BC) to Marathon World Record Breaker Legendary ABEBE BEKILA (1960 and 1964). It seems as if Legends runs within the Ethiopian blood. No wonder ancient Greeks like Homer, Herodotus LOVED and Respected the Ethiopians so much so that, they called their land as "Land of God". Of Ethiopia, Herodotus gives a compact description: "This country produces great quantities of gold, has an abundance of elephants and all the woodland trees, and ebony; and its men are the tallest, the most handsome, and the longest lived." Ancient Egyptians greatly admired and believed Ethiopia to be the "Source of Life and the Land of God" too. Long Live ETHIOPIA!!

[@tigistmekonnen1637]

Thanks

[@fes592]

Very well said brother! Thank you!

[@tenawabateneh701]

I am really proud of my country son (Abebe Bikila ever great in the running world forever) R.I.P

[@paulfhoffman]

Not only did Bikila twice win an Olympic marathon in world fastest ever time, the only person to ever do so, he did it in the heat and humidity of summer in Rome and Tokyo, conditions for which as an African highlander he was unaccustomed.

[@randyevermore9323]

To all those who claim heel-striking is an absolute evil, I suggest looking at 9:41. The athlete who's often held up as a model by proponents of forefoot striking and barefoot running was actually quite a heel-striker, at least when he was wearing shoes. But keep in mind that the shoes he's wearing would be considered extremely minimalistic today, as would have been all running shoes of that era. And if you view his gait from behind, you can see that he pronates quite a bit, too.