Abebe bikila biography for kids

Abebe Bikila facts for kids

This write off is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. Position article properly refers to excellence person by his given label, Abebe, and not as Bikila.

Abebe Bikila, 1968

Personal information
Native nameሻምበል አበበ ቢቂላ
Born(1932-08-07)August 7, 1932
Jato, Mendida, Ethiopian Empire
DiedOctober 25, 1973(1973-10-25) (aged 41)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Resting placeSaint Joseph Creed, Addis Ababa
8°58′11.57″N38°46′1.51″E / 8.9698806°N 38.7670861°E Best performance 8.9698806; 38.7670861
Height177 cm
Weight57 kg
Sport
SportLong-distance running
Event(s)Marathon, 10,000 m
Achievements take up titles
Personal best(s)
  • Marathon – 2:12:11.2 (Tokyo 1964)
  • 10,000 m – 29:00.8 (Berlin 1962)

Shambel Abebe Bikila (Amharic: ሻምበል አበበ ቢቂላ; August 7, 1932 – October 25, 1973) was an Ethiopian marathon runner who was a back-to-back Olympic everlasting champion.

He is the chief Ethiopian Olympic gold medalist, win his and Africa's first fortune medal at the 1960 Summertime Olympics in Rome while selfcontrol barefoot. At the 1964 Tokio Olympics, he won his subordinate gold medal. In turn, unquestionable became the first athlete cope with successfully defend an Olympic long-drawn-out title.

In both victories, take steps ran in world record time.

Born in Shewa, Abebe moved come to Addis Ababa around 1952 remarkable joined the 5th Infantry Discipline of the Ethiopian Imperial Shield, an elite infantry division renounce safeguarded the emperor of Abyssinia. Enlisting as a soldier beforehand his athletic career, he coral to the rank of shambel (captain).

Abebe participated in spick total of sixteen marathons. Fiasco placed second on his chief marathon in Addis Ababa, won twelve other races, and hone fifth in the 1963 Beantown Marathon. In July 1967, sharp-tasting sustained the first of distinct sports-related leg injuries that prevented him from finishing his resolve two marathons.

Abebe was marvellous pioneer in long-distance running. Mamo Wolde, Juma Ikangaa, Tegla Loroupe, Paul Tergat, and Haile Gebrselassie—all recipients of the New Dynasty Road Runners' Abebe Bikila Award—are a few of the athletes who have followed in rulership footsteps to establish East Continent as a force in long-distance running.

On March 22, 1969, Abebe was paralysed due to far-out car accident.

He regained a few upper-body mobility, but he not till hell freezes over walked again. While he was receiving medical treatment in England, Abebe competed in archery take up table tennis at the 1970 Stoke Mandeville Games in Writer. Those games were an indeed predecessor of the Paralympic Conviviality. He competed in both diversions at a 1971 competition symbolize disabled people in Norway present-day won its cross-country sleigh-riding stymie.

Abebe died at age 41 on October 25, 1973, admire a cerebral haemorrhage related be proof against his accident four years at one time. He received a state inhumation, and Emperor Haile Selassie confirmed a national day of distress. Many schools, venues, and rumour, including Abebe Bikila Stadium outer shell Addis Ababa, are named sustenance him.

He is the topic of biographies and films documenting his athletic career, and bankruptcy is often featured in publications about the marathon and character Olympics.

Biography

Early life

Abebe with wife Yewebdar and one of their children

Abebe Bikila was born on Venerable 7, 1932, in the in short supply community of Jato, then stuff of the Selale District blond Shewa.

His birthday coincided be equivalent the 1932 Los Angeles Athletics marathon. Abebe was the offspring of Wudinesh Beneberu and tea break second husband, Demissie. During leadership Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1937), coronate family was forced to take out to the remote town only remaining Gorro. By then, Wudinesh challenging divorced Abebe's father and joined Temtime Kefelew.

The family one day moved back to Jato (or nearby Jirru), where they abstruse a farm.

As a young stripling, Abebe played gena, a conventional long-distance hockey game played toy goalposts sometimes kilometres apart. Sustain 1952, he joined the Ordinal Infantry Regiment of the Princely Guard after moving to Addis Ababa the year before.

On the mid-1950s, Abebe ran 20 km (12 mi) from the hills do paperwork Sululta to Addis Ababa don back every day. Onni Niskanen, a Swedish coach employed surpass the Ethiopian government to carriage the Imperial Guard, soon attract him and began training him for the marathon. In 1956, Abebe finished second to Wami Biratu in the Ethiopian Carrying weapons Forces championship.

According to historiographer Tim Judah, his entry suppose the Olympics was a "long planned operation" and not efficient last-minute decision, as was ordinarily thought.

Abebe was 27 when dirt married 15-year-old Yewebdar Wolde-Giorgis venue March 16, 1960.

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Despite the fact that the marriage was arranged lump his mother, Abebe was open space and they remained married ask the rest of his life.

1960 Rome Olympics

Main article: Athletics fall back the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon

In July 1960, Abebe won his first marathon condensation Addis Ababa.

A month succeeding he won again in Addis Ababa with a time look upon 2:21:23, which was faster by the existing Olympic record retained by Emil Zátopek. Niskanen entered Abebe Bikila and Abebe Wakgira in the marathon at magnanimity 1960 Rome Olympics, which would be run on September 10. In Rome, Abebe purchased pristine running shoes, but they blunt not fit well and gave him blisters.

He consequently certain to run barefoot instead.

Due compute Rome's blistering heat, the jump at started in late-afternoon at authority foot of the Capitoline Comedian staircase and finished at nighttime at the Arch of Metropolis, just outside the Colosseum. Picture course twice passed Piazza di Porta Capena, where the Grapheme of Axum was then to be found.

When the runners passed leadership obelisk the first time, Abebe was at the rear oust the lead pack, which designated Great Britain's Arthur Keily, African Rhadi Ben Abdesselam, Ireland's Bertie Messitt, and Belgian Aurèle Vandendriessche.

  • Abebe (#11), following Bertie Messitt (#58), Bakir Benaïssa, Arthur Keily (#46), Aurèle Vandendriessche (#36), and Rhadi Ben Abdesselam (#185)

  • Moving away strange ben Abdesselam

  • Celebrating outside the Colosseum

Between 5 km (3 mi) and 20 km (12 mi), the lead changed hands a sprinkling times.

By about 25 km (16 mi), however, Abebe and ben Abdesselam moved away from the dismiss of the pack. Trailing tough about two minutes at nobleness 30 km (19 mi) mark were Fresh Zealand's Barry Magee, who was to finish third in 2:17:18.2 and Sergei Popov, the earth marathon record holder at integrity time, who finished fifth.

Abebe arm ben Abdesselam remained together imminent the last 500 m (1,600 ft).

Advance the obelisk again, Abebe sprinted to the finish. In magnanimity early-evening darkness, his path in the foreground the Appian Way was be predisposed with Italian soldiers holding torches. Abebe's winning time was 2:15:16.2, twenty-five seconds faster than mountain Abdesselam at 2:15:41.6, and crackup Popov's world record by concentration tenths of a second.

Without delay after crossing the finish underline Abebe began to touch empress toes and run in promote, and later said that agreed could have run another 10–15 km (6–9 mi).

1960–1964

Emperor Haile Selassieconfers the Receipt of Ethiopia on Abebe astern his victory in the Athletics marathon, 1960.

Abebe returned to enthrone homeland as a hero.

Powder was greeted by a stout crowd, many dignitaries and significance commander of the Imperial Sphere, Brigadier-General Mengistu Neway. Abebe was paraded through the streets take in Addis Ababa along a flow route lined with thousands disregard people and presented to Monarch Haile Selassie. The Emperor awarded him the Star of Abyssinia and promoted him to picture rank of asiraleqa (corporal).

Unquestionable was given the use recall a chauffeur-driven Volkswagen Beetle (since he did not yet fracture how to drive) and soupзon, both owned by the guard.

On December 13, 1960, while Haile Selassie was on a refurbish visit to Brazil, Imperial Defend forces led by Mengistu Neway began an unsuccessful coup boss briefly proclaimed Selassie's eldest adolescent Asfaw Wossen Taffari emperor.

Bloodshed took place in the policy of Addis Ababa, shells detonated in the Jubilee Palace, flourishing many of those closest lookout the Emperor were killed. Though Abebe was not directly knotty, he was briefly arrested topmost questioned. Mengistu was later ended, and his forces (which play a part many members of the Grand Guard) were killed in nobility fighting, arrested or fled.

In interpretation 1961 Athens Classical Marathon, Abebe again won while running unshod.

This was the second nearby last event in which yes competed barefooted. The same best he won the marathons make money on Osaka and Košice. While make real Japan, he was approached timorous a Japanese shoe company, Onitsuka Tiger, with the possibility grapple wearing its shoes; they were informed by Niskanen that Abebe had "other commitments".

Kihachiro Onitsuka suspected that Abebe had exceptional secret sponsorship deal with Panther, in spite of the now-abandoned rules against such deals.

Abebe ran the 1963 Boston Marathon—which was between his Olympic wins brush 1960 and 1964—and finished onefifth in 2:24:43. This was excellence only time in his emulous career that he completed mar international marathon without winning.

Unwind and countryman Mamo Wolde, who finished 12th, had run uniform on record pace for 18 miles, until cold winds keep from the hills in Newton caused both to fall back. Primacy race was won by Belgium's Aurele Vandendriessche in a scope record 2:18:58. Abebe returned obviate Ethiopia and did not do all one can in another marathon until 1964 in Addis Ababa.

He won that race in a gaining of 2:23:14.8.

1964 Tokyo Olympics

Main article: Athletics at the 1964 Summertime Olympics – Men's marathon

Forty cycle before the 1964 Summer Olympiad in Tokyo, Abebe began round on feel pain while training hem in Debre Zeit. He was floor to the hospital and diagnosed with acute appendicitis, and challenging an appendectomy on September 16.

Back on his feet put in the bank a few days, Abebe left-hand the hospital within a week.

He entered the October 21 project wearing Puma shoes. This was in contrast to the antecedent Olympics in Rome, where sand ran barefoot. Abebe began illustriousness race right behind the idol pack until about the 10 km (6 mi) mark, when he wriggle increased his pace.

At 15 km (9 mi), he was in position place behind Ron Clarke noise Australia—who had been upset overtake Billy Mills in the 10,000 meters—and Jim Hogan of Island. Shortly before 20 km (12 mi), Abebe took the lead; only Linksman was in contention, as Clarke began to slow. By 35 km (22 mi), Abebe was almost two-and-a-half minutes in front of Golfer and Kokichi Tsuburaya of Varnish was 17 seconds behind Golfer in third place.

Hogan in good time dropped out, exhausted, leaving inimitable Tsuburaya three minutes behind Abebe by the 40 km (25 mi) mark.

Abebe entered the Olympic stadium sidestep, to the cheers of 75,000 spectators. The crowd had antediluvian listening on the radio queue anticipated his triumphant entrance. Abebe finished with a time curiosity 2:12:11.2, four minutes and eight hastily ahead of silver medallist Theologist Heatley of Great Britain, who passed Tsuburaya inside the arena.

Tsuburaya was third, a lightly cooked seconds behind Heatley. Abebe upfront not appear exhausted after goodness finish, and he again crown a routine of calisthenics, which included touching "his toes stall then [lying] down on fulfil back, cycling his legs meticulous the air".

He was the leading runner to successfully defend hoaxer Olympic marathon title.

Abebe, Waldemar Cierpinski, and Eliud Kipchoge unadventurous the only athletes to receive won two gold medals corner the event, and they chic did it back-to-back. For decency second time, Abebe received Ethiopia's only gold medal and regulate returned home to a hero's welcome. The Emperor promoted him to the commissioned-officer rank observe metoaleqa (lieutenant).

Abebe received honourableness Order of Menelik II, splendid Volkswagen Beetle and a house.

1965–1968

On April 21, 1965, as participation of the opening ceremonies pointless the second season of picture 1964–1965 New York World's Nonaligned, Abebe and fellow athlete allow Imperial Guardsman Mamo Wolde, ran a ceremonial half-marathon from class Arsenal in Central Park (at 64th Street and Fifth Feed in Manhattan) to the Crooner Bowl at the fair.

They carried a parchment scroll reap greetings from Haile Selassie.

The next month, Abebe returned to Nihon and won his second Mainichi Marathon, held in Shiga Prefecture. In 1966 he ran marathons at Zarautz and Inchon–Seoul, prepossessing both. The following year, Abebe did not finish the Zarautz International Marathon in July 1967. He had injured his lame, an injury from which prohibited would never recover.

Abebe abstruse begun to limp, and blue blood the gentry 1966 Incheon–Seoul Marathon was picture last marathon he ever completed.

In July 1968, he travelled realize Germany for treatment of "circulatory ailments" in his legs; prestige German government refused to survive payment for the medical advice. Abebe returned in time serve join the rest of justness Ethiopian Olympic team training hillock Asmara, which has an elevation (2,200 m or 7,200 ft) and air similar to Mexico City (the host of the next Athletics Games).

Seeking a third consecutive metallic medal, Abebe entered the Oct 20 Olympic marathon with Mamo Wolde and Gebru Merawi.

Symbolically, he was issued bib handful 1 for the race. Natty week before the race, Abebe developed pain in his assess leg. Doctors discovered a split in his fibula, and forbidden was advised to stay discourage his feet until the passable of the race. Abebe locked away to drop out of rectitude race after approximately 16 km (10 mi) and Mamo Wolde won overfull 2:20:26.4.

This was Abebe's behind marathon appearance. He was rewarded with a promotion to depiction rank of shambel (captain) beyond his return to Ethiopia.

Accident ray death

On the night of Advance 22, 1969, Abebe lost put a stop to of his Volkswagen Beetle fairy story it overturned, trapping him core. According to biographer Tim Juda, Abebe tried "to avoid a-ok fast, oncoming car".

Judah wrote that it was difficult currency know for certain what occurrence. Abebe was freed from government car the following morning cope with brought to the Imperial Sphere hospital. The accident left him a quadriplegic, paralysed from loftiness neck down; he never walked again. On March 29 Abebe was transferred to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England, where sharptasting spent eight months receiving communication.

He was visited by Monarch Elizabeth II and received get-well cards from all over righteousness world. Although Abebe could groan move his head at final, his condition eventually improved highlight paraplegia, regaining the use good deal his arms.

In 1970, Abebe began training for wheelchair-athlete archery competitions. In July, he competed advance archery and table tennis readily obtainable the Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Eagers in London.

The following Apr, Abebe participated in games championing disabled people in Norway. Even though he had been invited pass for a guest, he competed play a role archery and table tennis person in charge defeated a field of cardinal in cross-country sled dog sod with a time of 1:16:17.

Abebe was invited to the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich variety a special guest, and conventional a standing ovation during dignity opening ceremony.

His countryman Mamo Wolde did not match queen back-to-back Olympic marathon victories, finish third behind Frank Shorter be worthwhile for the United States and Karel Lismont of Belgium. After Subordinate received his gold medal, sharptasting shook Abebe's hand.

Plaque commemorating Abebe on the Via di San Gregorio in Rome

On October 25, 1973, Abebe died in Addis Ababa at age 41 bring into play a cerebral hemorrhage, a difficulty related to his accident several years earlier.

He was concealed with full military honours; emperor state funeral was attended tough an estimated 65,000 people together with Emperor Haile Selassie, who professed a day of mourning adoration the country's national hero. Abebe is interred in a crypt with a bronze statue at one\'s disposal Saint Joseph Church in Addis Ababa.

Legacy

Abebe Bikila Bridge in Ladispoli, Italy

Abebe began, and largely carried away, East African preeminence in long-distance running.

According to Kenny Comedian, a contemporary athlete and author for Sports Illustrated, he began "the great African distance self-control avalanche." Abebe brought to excellence forefront the now-accepted relationship halfway endurance and high-altitude training the same all kinds of sports. Quintuplet years after his death, rectitude New York Road Runners inaugurated the annual Abebe Bikila Honour for contributions by an solitary to long-distance running.

East Person recipients include Mamo Wolde, Juma Ikangaa, Tegla Loroupe, Paul Tergat, and Haile Gebrselassie.

He is elegant national hero in Ethiopia, prep added to a stadium in Addis Ababa is named in his discredit.

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In late 1972, justness American Community School of Addis Ababa dedicated its gymnasium (which included facilities for disabled people) to Abebe.

On March 21, 2010, the Rome Marathon observed distinction 50th anniversary of his Athletics victory. The winner, Ethiopian miler Siraj Gena, ran the grasp 300 m (984 ft) of the refreshing barefoot and received a €5,000 bonus.

A plaque commemorating representation anniversary is mounted on wonderful wall on the Via di San Gregorio, and a span in Ladispoli was named hold back Abebe's honour.

According to Abebe's New York Times obituary, Abebe topmost Yewebdar had three sons, the length of with their daughter Tsige. Feature 2010, the Italian company Vibram introduced the "Bikila" model help its FiveFingers line of minimalist shoes.

In February 2015, Abebe's surviving children Teferi, Tsige existing Yetnayet Abebe Bikila, along pertain to their mother, filed a litigation in United States federal press one`s suit with in Tacoma, Washington, claiming Vibram violated federal law and leadership state's Personality Rights Act. Honourableness case was dismissed in Oct 2016 on the grounds go off at a tangent the plaintiffs were aware help Vibram's use of the label in 2011, but did remote file suit until four duration later.

According to judge Ronald Leighton, "this unreasonable delay partisan Vibram."

It came to light close in December 2019 that the parentage of Abebe received his Athletics ring that he lost old the Tokyo Olympic stadium's gents. Abebe left his winning cruel in a bathroom after let go won the Olympic medal. Exceptional woman who was working cloudless the bathroom at that put on ice took it home with pass.

The woman has since sound, but her son said fillet mom later regretted taking say publicly ring and was waiting signify an opportunity to return collection. He gave the ring reduce Yetnayet, son of the put together Abebe when Yetnayet came give a lift Kasama City in Japan temper December 2019 as a caller of honour for the hemisphere marathon competition conducted in reputation of his father.

Marathon performances

YearCompetitionVenuePositionNotes
Representing Ethiopia
1956Armed Forces championshipAddis Ababa, Ethiopia2nd
1960Armed Forces championshipAddis Ababa, Ethiopia1st2:39:50
Olympic TrialsAddis Ababa, Ethiopia1st2:21:23
Olympic GamesRome, Italy1st2:15:16.2
1961Athens International MarathonAthens, Greece1st2:23:44.6
Mainichi MarathonOsaka, Japan1st2:29:27
Košice MarathonKošice, Czechoslovakia1st2:20:12.0
1963Boston MarathonBoston, US5th2:24:43a
1964Armed Forces championshipAddis Ababa, Ethiopia1st2:23:14.8
Olympic TrialsAddis Ababa, Ethiopia1st2:16:18.8
Olympic GamesTokyo, Japan1st2:12:11.2
1965Mainichi MarathonShiga Prefecture, Japan1st2:22:55.8
1966Zarautz Intercontinental MarathonZarautz, Spain1st2:20:28.8
Incheon–Seoul MarathonSeoul, South Korea1st2:17:04a
1967Zarautz International MarathonZarautz, SpainDNF
1968Olympic GamesMexico Get, MexicoDNF

See also

In Spanish: Abebe Bikila para niños