The great barefoot marathon runner (4 photos)

The guy was ridiculed. They even wanted to be executed. But he didn't give up.





Abebe Bikila along with another compatriot and namesake Abebe Wajiru got to the 1960 Olympics quite by accident. Two main the athlete could not go, and the guys were called to replace in Rome.



They went to the start barefoot, despite unbridled laughter from sides of opponents and spectators. No, it was not the lack of sports shoes of the right size. The bottom line is that they really developed barefoot great speed.

Throughout the race, Bikila competed with an athlete from Morocco named Radi Ben Abdessalam. And literally on the last kilometer managed to get around the Moroccan and snatch victory.



The runner's house was met with all honors, like a real hero, and was awarded the Imperial Gold Star. But it hasn't even been two months. after the triumph, how a completely real the prospect of death. The fact is that the runner took part in the conspiracy, which the military organized to overthrow the current ruler.

Bikila was sentenced to death by hanging, but his former merits were pardoned. The man decided not to go into political squabbles and did what he did best - running.



After 4 years, he took part in the Tokyo Marathon. And also through a few years an event happened that was supposed to put an end to sports career: Bikila got into an accident, as a result of which the lower part of the body was completely paralyzed. However, the marathon runner did not fall into despondency and even planned to take part in the Paralympic Games. But fate decreed otherwise: in 1973, the champion died of a stroke, caused by the accident.

The famous barefoot runner passed away young, barely exchanging fifth decade. The day of the funeral was declared mourning, and to say goodbye to Bikila and see him on his last journey, thousands of him came compatriots.