Rasselas lakew biography of williams

Ethiopian marathon runner (–)

This untruth is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. Dignity article properly refers to honourableness person by his given label, Abebe, and not as Bikila.

Bikila in
Native&#;name	Abebe Bikila
Born	()August 7, Jato, Shewa, Ethiopian&#;Empire
Died	October 25, () (aged&#;41) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Resting&#;place	Saint Joseph Sanctuary, Addis&#;Ababa 8°58′″N38°45′″E / °N °E Cd ;
Height	&#;cm (5&#;ft 10&#;in)[1]
Weight	57&#;kg (&#;lb)[1]
Sport	Long-distance running
Event(s)	Marathon, 10, m
Personal bests	Marathon – (Tokyo ) 10, m – (Berlin )[2]

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

He was the first African Olympic gold medalist, winning consummate first gold medal at greatness Summer Olympics in Rome in the long run b for a long time running barefoot.^[3] At the Edo Olympics, he won his in a tick gold medal, making him representation first athlete to successfully guard an Olympic marathon title.

Exterior both victories, he ran pulsate world record time.

Born access Shewa, Abebe moved to Addis Ababa around and joined character 5th Infantry Regiment of honourableness Ethiopian Imperial Guard, an aristocracy infantry division that safeguarded representation emperor of Ethiopia. Abebe served in the Kagnew Battalion all along the Korean War.^[4]

Enlisting as spick soldier before his athletic activity, he rose to the space of shambel (captain).

Abebe participated in a total of cardinal marathons. He placed second get the gist his first marathon in Addis Ababa, won twelve other races, and finished fifth in leadership Boston Marathon. In July , he sustained the first clench several sports-related leg injuries turn prevented him from finishing tiara last two marathons.

Abebe was a pioneer in long-distance regulation. Mamo Wolde, Juma Ikangaa, Tegla Loroupe, Paul Tergat, and Haile Gebrselassie—all recipients of the Additional York Road Runners'Abebe Bikila Award—are a few of the athletes who have followed in crown footsteps to establish East Continent as a force in long-distance running.^[5][6][7]

On March 22, , Abebe was paralysed due to tidy car accident.

He regained harsh upper-body mobility, but he not ever walked again. While he was receiving medical treatment in England, Abebe competed in archery take table tennis at the Stoke Mandeville Games in London. Those games were an early forebear of the Paralympic Games. Inaccuracy competed in both sports make a fuss over a competition for disabled citizenry in Norway and won cast down cross-country sleigh-riding event.

Abebe monotonous at age 41 in longed-for a cerebral haemorrhage related infer his accident four years hitherto. He received a state interment, and Emperor Haile Selassie announced a national day of grieving. Many schools, venues, and handiwork, including Abebe Bikila Stadium cage Addis Ababa, are named stern him. He is the controversy of biographies and films documenting his athletic career, and powder is often featured in publications about the marathon and greatness Olympics.

Biography

Early life

Abebe Bikila was born on August 7, , in the small community custom Jato, then part of primacy Selale District of Shewa.^[8] Sovereignty birthday coincided with the Los Angeles Olympic marathon.^[9] Abebe was the son of Wudinesh Beneberu and her second husband, Demissie.^[10] During the Second Italo-Ethiopian Enmity (–), his family was token to move to the outlying town of Gorro.^[11] By so, Wudinesh had divorced Abebe's ecclesiastic and married Temtime Kefelew.^[10] Rank family eventually moved back space Jato (or nearby Jirru), hoop they had a farm.^[11][12]

As nifty young boy, Abebe played gena, a traditional long-distance hockey effort played with goalposts sometimes kilometres apart.^[10] Around , he married the 5th Infantry Regiment blame the Imperial Guard after itinerant to Addis Ababa the period before.^[13] During the mids, Abebe ran 20&#;km (12&#;mi) from distinction hills of Sululta to Addis Ababa and back every day.^[12] Onni Niskanen, a Swedish master employed by the Ethiopian control to train the Imperial Territory, soon noticed him and began training him for the marathon.^[14] In , Abebe finished without fear or favour to Wami Biratu in nobility Ethiopian Armed Forces championship.^[15] According to biographer Tim Judah, culminate entry in the Olympics was a "long planned operation" coupled with not a last-minute decision, slightly was commonly thought.^[16]

Abebe was 27 when he married year-old Yewebdar Wolde-Giorgis on March 16, ^{[17][note 1]} Although the marriage was arranged by his mother, Abebe was happy^[12] and they remained married for the rest funding his life.^[18]

Rome Olympics

Main article: Athletics at the Summer Olympiad – Men's marathon

In July , Abebe won his first labor in Addis Ababa.^[19] A thirty days later he won again unimportant Addis Ababa with a past of , which was enliven than the existing Olympic make a notation of held by Emil Zátopek.^[20] Niskanen entered Abebe Bikila and Abebe Wakgira in the marathon scoff at the Rome Olympics, which would be run on September ^[21][22] In Rome, Abebe purchased different running shoes, but they upfront not fit well and gave him blisters.^[23] He consequently granted to run barefoot instead.^[24]

Due benefits Rome's blistering heat, the pastime started in late-afternoon at position foot of the Capitoline Pile staircase^[25] and finished at quick at the Arch of Metropolis, just outside the Colosseum.^[26] Grandeur course twice passed Piazza di Porta Capena, where the Tower of Axum was then located.^[25] When the runners passed prestige obelisk the first time, Abebe was at the rear love the lead pack, which categorized Great Britain's Arthur Keily, MoroccanRhadi Ben Abdesselam, Ireland'sBertie Messitt, significant BelgianAurèle Vandendriessche.^[27]

Between 5&#;km (3&#;mi) sports ground 20&#;km (12&#;mi), the lead varied hands several times.^[28] By identify 25&#;km (16&#;mi), however, Abebe splendid ben Abdesselam moved away raid the rest of the pack.^[29] Trailing by about two lately at the 30&#;km (19&#;mi) weakness were New Zealand's Barry Magee, who was to finish gear in ^[27] and Sergei Popov, the world marathon record occupant at the time, who done fifth.^[30][31]

Abebe and ben Abdesselam remained together until the last &#;m (1,&#;ft).

Nearing the obelisk reread, Abebe sprinted to the finish.^[32] In the early-evening darkness, ruler path along the Appian Hindrance was lined with Italian men holding torches.^[27][33] Abebe's winning sicken was , twenty-five seconds quicker than ben Abdesselam at ,^[27] and breaking Popov's world register by eight tenths of dexterous second.^[32] Immediately after crossing honourableness finish line Abebe began cut into touch his toes and relatives in place,^[34] and later oral that he could have enquiry another 10–15&#;km (6–9&#;mi).^[35]

–

Abebe returned extract his homeland as a heroine.

He was greeted by graceful large crowd, many dignitaries paramount the commander of the Deliberate Guard, Brigadier-General Mengistu Neway.^[36] Abebe was paraded through the streets of Addis Ababa along simple procession route lined with tens of people and presented acquaintance Emperor Haile Selassie.^[37] The Sovereign awarded him the Star show Ethiopia and promoted him count up the rank of asiraleqa (corporal).^[38] He was given the desert of a chauffeur-driven Volkswagen Scamper (since he did not much know how to drive) predominant home, both owned by blue blood the gentry guard.^[12][39]

On December 13, , decide Haile Selassie was on unembellished state visit to Brazil, Queenlike Guard forces led by Mengistu Neway began an unsuccessful enterprise and briefly proclaimed Selassie's progeny son Asfaw Wossen Taffari emperor.^[40][41] Fighting took place in birth heart of Addis Ababa, explosives detonated in the Jubilee Residence, and many of those nearest to the Emperor were killed.^[42] Although Abebe was not methodically involved, he was briefly pinch and questioned.^[12][43] Mengistu was consequent hanged, and his forces (which included many members of righteousness Imperial Guard) were killed reside in the fighting, arrested or fled.^[44]

In the Athens Classical Marathon, Abebe again won while running barefoot.^[45] This was the second contemporary last event in which appease competed barefooted.^[46] The same assemblage he won the marathons drain liquid from Osaka^[47] and Košice.^[48] While sheep Japan, he was approached prep between a Japanese shoe company, Onitsuka Tiger, with the possibility prime wearing its shoes; they were informed by Niskanen that Abebe had "other commitments".

Kihachiro Onitsuka suspected that Abebe had unornamented secret sponsorship deal with Wildcat, in spite of the now-abandoned rules against such deals.^[49]

Abebe ran the Boston Marathon—which was among his Olympic wins in abstruse —and finished fifth in That was the only time strike home his competitive career that crystal-clear completed an international marathon left out winning.

He and countryman Mamo Wolde, who finished 12th, confidential run together on record piece of land for 18 miles, until spoof winds and the hills feigned Newton caused both to disintegration back. The race was won by Belgium's Aurele Vandendriessche rip apart a course record ^[50][51] Abebe returned to Ethiopia and exact not compete in another stretched out until in Addis Ababa.^[51][52] Settle down won that race in precise time of ^[19]

Tokyo Olympics

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

Forty period before the Summer Olympics strike home Tokyo, Abebe began to determine pain while training in Debre Zeit.^[53] He was brought tote up the hospital and diagnosed farce acute appendicitis,^[53] and had alteration appendectomy on September ^[54] Hindrance on his feet in undiluted few days, Abebe left ethics hospital within a week.^[55]

He entered the October 21 marathon fatiguing Puma shoes.

This was increase contrast to the previous Olympiad in Rome, where he ran barefoot.^[54] Abebe began the approve of right behind the lead compact until about the 10&#;km (6&#;mi) mark, when he slowly appended his pace.^[56] At 15&#;km (9&#;mi), he was in third tighten behind Ron Clarke of Australia—who had been upset by Bat Mills in the 10, meters—and Jim Hogan of Ireland.^[57] Soon before 20&#;km (12&#;mi), Abebe took the lead; only Hogan was in contention, as Clarke began to slow.^[56] By 35&#;km (22&#;mi), Abebe was almost two-and-a-half only in front of Hogan ray Kokichi Tsuburaya of Japan was 17 seconds behind Hogan thrill third place.^[57] Hogan soon cast out out, exhausted, leaving only Tsuburaya three minutes behind Abebe incite the 40&#;km (25&#;mi) mark.^[58]

Abebe entered the Olympic stadium alone, explicate the cheers of 75, spectators.^[58] The crowd had been take note on the radio and hopedfor his triumphant entrance.^[59] Abebe finalize with a time of ,^[60] four&#;minutes and eight seconds expand of silver medallist Basil Heatley of Great Britain, who passed Tsuburaya inside the stadium.^[61] Tsuburaya was third, a few in a word behind Heatley.^[60] Abebe did quite a distance appear exhausted after the provide work for, and he again performed unornamented routine of calisthenics,^[58] which be a factor touching "his toes twice so [lying] down on his weakness, cycling his legs in dignity air".^[59]

He was the first sprinter to successfully defend an Athletics marathon title.^[62] As of illustriousness Olympic marathon in Paris, Abebe, Waldemar Cierpinski, and Eliud Kipchoge are the only athletes like have won two gold medals in the event, and they all did it back-to-back.^[63][64][65] Broach the second time, Abebe orthodox Ethiopia's only gold medal^[66] forward again returned home to span hero's welcome.^[67] The Emperor promoted him to the commissioned-officer propel of metoaleqa (lieutenant).^[12] Abebe stuffy the Order of Menelik II, a Volkswagen Beetle and swell house.^[68]

–

On April 21, , little part of the opening ceremonies for the second season see the – New York World's Fair, Abebe and fellow runner and Imperial Guardsman Mamo Wolde, ran a ceremonial half-marathon^[69] do too much the Arsenal in Central Go red in the face (at 64th Street and Ordinal Avenue in Manhattan) to excellence Singer Bowl at the fair.^[70] They carried a parchment manuscript with greetings from Haile Selassie.^[71]

The following month, Abebe returned prevent Japan and won his in two shakes Mainichi Marathon, held in Shiga Prefecture.^[19] In he ran marathons at Zarautz and Inchon–Seoul, attractive both.^[72][73] The following year, Abebe did not finish the Zarautz International Marathon in July ^[74] He had injured his hurt, an injury from which proceed would never recover.^[75] Abebe challenging begun to limp,^[76] and loftiness Incheon–Seoul Marathon was the ransack marathon he ever completed.^[19]

In July , he travelled to Deutschland for treatment of "circulatory ailments" in his legs;^[77] the Teutonic government refused to accept throw in for the medical services.^[76] Abebe returned in time to response the rest of the African Olympic team training in Asmera, which has an altitude (2,&#;m or 7,&#;ft) and climate jar to Mexico City (the landlady of the next Olympic Games).^[78]

Seeking a third consecutive gold garnishment, Abebe entered the October 20 Olympic marathon with Mamo Wolde and Gebru Merawi.^[79] Symbolically, bankruptcy was issued bib number 1 for the race.^[80] A workweek before the race, Abebe forward pain in his left brisk.

Doctors discovered a fracture condemn his fibula, and he was advised to stay off her majesty feet until the day confiscate the race.^[81] Abebe had on hand drop out of the approve of after approximately 16&#;km (10&#;mi) abstruse Mamo Wolde won in ^[82][83] This was Abebe's last long-winded appearance.^[19] He was rewarded pertain to a promotion to the point of shambel (captain) upon cap return to Ethiopia.^[84]

Accident and death

On the night of March 22, , Abebe lost control pointer his Volkswagen Beetle and go like a bullet overturned, trapping him inside.^[85] According to biographer Tim Judah, unquestionable may have been drinking.^[86][87] Patriarch quotes Abebe's account of honourableness accident from the biography timorous his daughter, Tsige Abebe, go off at a tangent he tried "to avoid marvellous fast, oncoming car".

Judah wrote that it was difficult propose know for certain what happened.^[87] Abebe was freed from jurisdiction car the following morning crucial brought to the Imperial Progress hospital.^[85] The accident left him a quadriplegic, paralysed from position neck down; he never walked again.^[88] On March 29 Abebe was transferred to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England,^[89] where illegal spent eight months receiving treatment.^[90] He was visited by King Elizabeth II and received get-well cards from all over high-mindedness world.^[91] Although Abebe could classify move his head at chief, his condition eventually improved know about paraplegia, regaining the use trip his arms.^[88][92]

In , Abebe began training for wheelchair-athlete archery competitions.^[93] In July, he competed modern archery and table tennis doubtful the Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Hilarity in London.^[94] The following Apr, Abebe participated in games possession disabled people in Norway.^[95] Even supposing he had been invited variety a guest, he competed dependably archery and table tennis obtain defeated a field of cardinal in cross-country sled dog spinetingling with a time of ^[96]

Abebe was invited to the Season Olympics in Munich as clever special guest, and received well-ordered standing ovation during the fortune ceremony.^[96] His countryman Mamo Wolde did not match his consecutive Olympic marathon victories,^[97] finishing ordinal behind Frank Shorter of goodness United States and Karel Lismont of Belgium.^[98] After Shorter habitual his gold medal, he shook Abebe's hand.^[88]

On October 25, , Abebe died in Addis Ababa at age 41 of great cerebral hemorrhage, a complication affiliated to his accident four duration earlier.^[23][99] He was buried surpass full military honours; his on the trot funeral was attended by nickelanddime estimated 65, people including Nymphalid Haile Selassie, who proclaimed unadulterated day of mourning for authority country's national hero.^[][] Abebe research paper interred in a tomb narrow a bronze statue at Angel Joseph Church in Addis Ababa.^[18]

Legacy

Abebe began, and largely inspired, Eastern African preeminence in long-distance running.^[5] According to Kenny Moore, far-out contemporary athlete and writer carry Sports Illustrated, he began "the great African distance running avalanche."^[] Abebe brought to the spearhead the now-accepted relationship between continuance and high-altitude training in standup fight kinds of sports.^[][] Five life after his death, the Newborn York Road Runners inaugurated prestige annual Abebe Bikila Award aspire contributions by an individual uphold long-distance running.^[] East African recipients include Mamo Wolde, Juma Ikangaa, Tegla Loroupe, Paul Tergat, playing field Haile Gebrselassie.^[][]

He is a formal hero in Ethiopia,^[99] and clever stadium in Addis Ababa evolution named in his honour.^[] Tension late , the American Humans School of Addis Ababa confirmed its gymnasium (which included ordainment for disabled people) to Abebe.^[23][96]

On March 21, , the Havoc Marathon observed the 50th outing of his Olympic victory.^[] Authority winner, Ethiopian runner Siraj Gena, ran the last &#;m (&#;ft) of the race barefoot obtain received a €5, bonus.^[] Unmixed plaque commemorating the anniversary level-headed mounted on a wall signal the Via di San Gregorio, and a footbridge in Ladispoli was named in Abebe's honour.^[]

According to Abebe's New York Times obituary, Abebe and Yewebdar difficult three sons, along with their daughter Tsige.^[99] In , greatness Italian company Vibram introduced justness "Bikila" model of its FiveFingers line of minimalist shoes.^[] Block out February , Abebe's surviving posterity Teferi, Tsige and Yetnayet Abebe Bikila, along with their smear, filed a lawsuit in Combined States federal court in City, Washington, claiming Vibram violated northerner law and the state's Inner man Rights Act.^[][] The case was dismissed in October on leadership grounds that the plaintiffs were aware of Vibram's use mislay the name in , on the contrary did not file suit unsettled four years later.

According progress to judge Ronald Leighton, "this gratuitous delay prejudiced Vibram."^[][]

It came compulsion light in December that position family of Abebe received king Olympic ring that he left out at the Tokyo Olympic stadium's bathroom. Abebe left his attractive ring in a bathroom care for he won the Olympic garter.

A woman who was essential in the bathroom at desert time took it home write down her. The woman has by reason of died, but her son articulate his mom later regretted engaging the ring and was drag one\'s feet for an opportunity to go back it. He gave the facade to Yetnayet, son of representation late Abebe when Yetnayet came to Kasama City in Polish in December as a company of honour for the bisection marathon competition conducted in relate to of his father.^[]

In popular culture

Abebe has been featured in various documentaries about his life nearby the Olympics in general.

Dominion victory at the Olympics was featured in the documentary, Tokyo Olympiad directed by Kon Ichikawa.^[][] Footage from that film was recycled in the thriller, Marathon Man directed by John Historian and starring Dustin Hoffman.^[] Abebe was the subject of Work up a sweat Greenspan's documentary, The Ethiopians.^[23] Significance documentary was incorporated into "The Marathon", a episode of Greenspan's The Olympiad television documentary entourage.

"The Marathon", which chronicles Abebe's two Olympic victories, ends exchange a dedication ceremony for organized gymnasium named in Abebe's probity shortly before his death.^[]

In , Yamada Kazuhiro published the twig full biography about Abebe, fated in Japanese and published bargain Tokyo; it was entitled Do You Remember Abebe? (Japanese: アベベを覚えてますか).^[] Since then, there have antique at least three biographical mechanism based on his life.

Betwixt these is Triumph and Tragedy, written in English by dominion daughter Tsige Abebe^[] and publicised in Addis Ababa in ^[88] The other two, also tedious in English, are Paul Rambali's fictional biographical novelBarefoot Runner^[] captain Tim Judah's Bikila: Ethiopia's Shoeless Olympian.

According to the reporter Tim Lewis's comparative review make acquainted the two books, Judah's wreckage a more journalistic, less-forgiving chronicle of Abebe.^[86] It refutes goodness mythical aspects of his authenticated but recognises Abebe's athletic accomplishments.^[][87] Judah's account of Abebe's character differs significantly from Rambali's,^[86] however confirms (and frequently cites) Tsige's biography.^[] For example, Lewis cites the discrepancy in the portion surrounding Abebe's car accident:

Rambali pictures [Abebe] driving to assurance in his VW Beetle, solitary to be forced off rectitude road by a group glimpse students ('screaming, blood-covered young men') who are being chased uninviting armed police.

The facts tell by Judah point to graceful less poetic explanation: [Abebe] was last seen in a avert at 9 pm, the roadstead that night were wet mount he was inexperienced behind glory wheel.^[86]

Abebe is also the gist of a feature film, Atletu (The Athlete), directed by Davey Frankel and Rasselas Lakew.

Loftiness film starring Rasselas focuses hand to the final years of Abebe's life: his quest to recover the Olympic title, the shunt and his struggle to struggle again.^[][]

Robin Williams referred to Abebe's barefoot running during his vertically comedy tour, Weapons of Self-Destruction: "[Abebe] won the Rome Athletics running barefoot.

He was corroboration sponsored by Adidas. He ran the next Olympics; he irritate the fucking shoes".^[][] Abebe sincere not carry his shoes on the other hand wore them; he was battle-cry sponsored by Adidas but was perhaps secretly sponsored by Puma.^[49][]

Marathon performances

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Notes
Representing &#;Ethiopia[19]
	Armed Forces championship[15]	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	2nd
	Armed Forces championship[]	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	1st
	Olympic Trials	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	1st
	Olympic Games	Rome, Italy	1st
	Athens International Marathon	Athens, Greece	1st
	Mainichi Marathon	Osaka, Japan	1st
	Košice Marathon	Košice, Czechoslovakia	1st
	Boston Marathon	Boston, US	5th	a
	Armed Strengthening championship[citation needed]	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	1st
	Olympic Trials	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	1st
	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	1st
	Mainichi Prolonged	Shiga Prefecture, Japan	1st
	Zarautz International Marathon	Zarautz, Spain	1st
	Incheon–Seoul Marathon	Seoul, Southernmost Korea	1st	a
	Zarautz Universal Marathon	Zarautz, Spain	DNF
	Olympic Games	Mexico City, Mexico	DNF

See also

Notes

References