The marathon king who changed the Olympics forever - BBC Africa

From serving Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia to becoming a marathon legend, Abebe Bikila made history as the first black African man to win an Olympic gold medal. He was also the first athlete to defend a marathon Olympic title. After years running at the top of his game, he suffered life changing injuries leaving him unable to walk. But he picked himself up and competed and won in competitions for disabled athletes. World famous while he was alive, he has inspired generations of athletes, but his incredible story has been forgotten by many outside of his home country.
#AbebeBikila #olympicgames2024 #ethiopia
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[@marsi5845]

I am Black, I am African and proudly Ethiopian.

[@ucan1]

Thanks for putting Ethiopia on the map back then😊
May the soul of Abebe Bikila continue to RIP🙏

[@yonatankidane3596]

He thought a "new pair of trainers would give him blisters, so he ran barefooted on cobblestone and concrete and won ." Amazing!

[@azebnegash2354]

He's absolutely right!!! He most certainly would have gotten blisters from a new runner.
A new runner needs to be, what they call it nowadays, broken. It means one has to wear it a few times before using it on Marathon.
Who ever suggested the idea was trying to sabotage him.

[@yonatankidane3596]

@@azebnegash2354 I think you misinterpreted what was said. It was paying homage to Abebe for his incredible accomplishments. Running a marathon barefoot is no easy task. And to win it no less...

[@ShortDeeps]

@@azebnegash2354 Amazing!

[@mohammedhussien4763]

@@yonatankidane3596no you misunderstood her, but it’s okay

[@amanuelchorito]

A story that never ages.

[@mohamb3785d]

My eyes are teary after hearing about this incredible man, what a great life story where he never gave up despite all the setbacks, a tragic end 😢. Love from somalia.

[@andumenged]

1960, the first black african gold medal winner at the olympics, a legend and a hero! thank you 🙏

[@manealst7249]

He was 5’10 too. Very tall for his time.

[@Injerahustler]

The man, the myth, the LEGEND! The one and only Abebe Bikila! A true inspiration for the whole continent!

[@cherutesso9994]

Abebe Bikila our legend !!!

[@studioorigami7463]

Thank you BBC for showing us this world legend's story

[@user-en1zc5vd6y]

Lots of great people we’ve never heard about. Keep bringing these stories especially about Africa

[@keetimtube3483]

WE HAVE OUR HISTORY THAT NEED TO BE TOLD IMPARTIALLY LIKE THIS, THANK YOU BBC!

[@ThePomskysPalace]

Yes yes yes! When my father got older and couldn’t walk fast, I would call him our Ethiopian track star!! I watched him struggle and would say “Here comes Haile Gebrselassie or Abebe Bekela” he would always laugh, it gave him strength. Ethiopians don’t give in, we don’t give up! God Bless Ethiopia, how I miss my country. Long live our legendary history! ❤️🇪🇹

[@hailuamanuel2249]

True Legend

[@judyowiso5468]

Africa ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@DanPiter-nb4uh]

Our Legend is forever in our heart!!!!!!! RIP our Hero!!!!!!

[@QualityEducationForU]

ብቻውን ሮምን የወረረ ጀግና!
A hero who invaded Rome alone! a true son of Africa! you will always be remembered!


[@TsegayeDarge]

ABEBE BEKILA, a hero born in AFRICA,ETHIOPIA

[@soccertv6347]

The One and Only Legend Abebe Bikila.

[@drdanieldagne2928]

I am Habesha , I am African and proudly Ethiopian.

[@kingGForce9255]

Abebe bikila showed the world that a black man can do anything.

[@user-mr8xj8jq6y]

He is My country symbol of endurance

[@yohanneskindu8794]

Thanks for praising the GOAT!!!!

[@itsmydamonelove4804]

Rip legend for all Africa 😍Ethiopia 🇪🇹

[@hit2579]

What a great man

[@betisima5377]

We are proud of him

[@tirsitlammatessema3519]

የማያረጅ ታሪክ!!

[@natnaelasres933]

This needs its own movie.

[@norbetoch]

What a legend! What a warrior !

[@Firstlast-gp2eq]

such an inspiring story from humble beginnings to back to back olympic gold medalist. a hero of ethiopia and africa indeed

[@abebegebrekirstos4454]

The best ever Athlete of any sport!!!the GOAT!!! every time I see a slowmo of his runs just bring tears to my eye

[@yking6443]

Our Ethiopia 🇪🇹 hero 🙌

[@redwanredwanWayne]

Rest in peace legend 🙏

[@Anuwar-u9y]

Our hero!

[@kitty-vk8ic]

Never forgotten rest in peace legend,

[@temepc]

Real Legend 😢

[@yohanesmoges5003]

our legend

[@user-yh2zd3xn1d]

As an Ethiopian , I Can't Tell U How Proud I Am… Ethiopia Is The Cradle Of.Man Kind ❤❤

[@melakuabi3898]

Legend never die ❤

[@free1855]

Proudly Ethiopian. He wasn't just a king. He was beyond legendary. A true icon.

[@JesusMyhealer]

Abebe Bikela

[@kalebgirma3048]

Our hero

[@BlackDiamond548]

What a magnificent person 😊

[@user-jo3wi5ji3n]

He is a legend.

[@dawitnigussie]

Our pride❤

[@አሚድያAMEDIA]

incredible man !!!!

[@AnduAmlak-vj4of]

Abebe Bekila’s Legacy will live on. Rest In Peace In the light

[@biniyamtv2632]

Bikila🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@YomanCode]

Our legend 🔥

[@abebadesawit8537]

Thanks BBC for remembering Ethiopian gold man!!!

[@infoshare5181]

Abe is a legend

[@biniyamtv2632]

Abebe🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@eyobasefa5314]

he is legend

[@user-pm1nq9zm7j]

Ethiopia is the land of heros and always leading long distance running

[@bubutube7]

Abebe is a hero of all time in the history of athletics .

[@user-di2vg2tl3i]

The legend!!!

[@kerhabplays]

Abebe Bikila, Peace be upon him. A legend.

[@joyaddis6726]

Our greatest 💚💛❤️💪🏽

[@GebreGiorgis]

African Legend

[@beyaed34]

The Man and the only Man!

[@mohammedyimam5008]

Abebe is the African king

[@ashebirhailegeorgis9564]

Legend😭❤❤❤

[@tenubekele5553]

May God continued to keep in rest in peace in heaven our legend our pride Abebe Bikila and Oni Niscanon thank you BBC

[@henosbelew9965]

our legend 🤗, such a great story

[@annatikuye9603]

He was a Greatest man in the world. RIP LEGEND, GOLDEN, KING 👑 ETHIOPIANS 🙏💚💛❤️

[@bilenmusic]

Beyond proud 💪💯

[@user-xm8lb7rx8s]

ክብር ለ አትሌት አበበ ቢቂላ❤። ዘመን የማይሽረው የቁርጡ ቀን ልጅ አበበ ቢቂላ ነብስህ በአባቶቻችን ጎን ትረፍ እናመሰግንሀለን እንወድሀለን።

[@hotbloodedethiopian6229]

My hero ❤❤❤❤❤ proud to be an Ethiopian and proud to be an African!!

[@seneyeeshete9729]

Proud of my Ethiopia Africa

[@Hello_Ethiopia]

WOW BBC News Africa👍
"Abebe changed the Olympics forever! Thank you, Abebe Bikila, for your amazing work! 💪"

[@dawittessema9128]

Thanks For Sharing The Story Of This All Time Ethiopiam Athletic Hero

[@tsegaeyesus5387]

Proud African!

[@melatlove2000]

Thank you BBC for refreshing one of Ethiopian hero from history ❤

[@Me-ku8gh]

💙💛❤ Our Ethiopian pride!

[@user-gy4lq1id1z]

❤❤❤

[@King_nation12]

አበበ ቢቂላ ABEBE BIKILA የኢትዮጵያ ጀግና ❤❤❤❤

[@madreks253]

Ethiopia land of my ancestors! Black African Man is King. Thanks for your legendary contribution to the World. Rest in Power Baba Abele Bikila🏃🏿‍♂️🤴🏾❤

[@mesayyilma3990]

We have much more legends to come !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!🟢🟡🔴 #Ethiopia!!!!

[@momoben9899]

😢🙏

[@aduSport]

The GOAT ❤❤❤

[@emdee_lucky]

That's The Real Goggins

[@tio50s21]

God bless Ethiopia ❤

[@ashenafiatgs980]

Thanks Abebe!
RIP my Brother, Father ... !

[@ermiasbirhanu289]

He’s iconic Athlete in the entire planet, name 1 Athletes run long distance with barefoot? His legacy still lives on 🇪🇹🙏🏿

[@seidomer2339]

Abebe Bikila is an exceptional inspiration & a brilliant role model for millions aspiring to thrive!

[@thtnawbezuwork6080]

iconic this history is will never be forgotten
it will inspire generations to come

[@bgz7588]

Powerful. Emotional. Inspirational. Thank you.

[@manKigogo]

I'm Kenyan,I respect Abebe Bikila and all Ethiopians so much. We are rivals in the field but great neighbours outside.Yene Konjo.

[@Boxingcorner465]

Wow 🤩 ❤ thanks

[@HabtuTadele-lm8cu]

love,abebe bekila 🇪🇹

[@trusew.habtam]

Amazing 👏 👏👏

[@user-gb4nz4tk1g]

Great, He was the only Athlete to win marathon from start to finish line on barefoot !!

[@Drockaddis]

May Ethiopia live forever!

[@nextgengaming6614]

This is great. The world needs to know about our Ethiopian Legend! First black gold medalist in the Olympics an achievement that should be celebrated by all Africans.

[@Shalom-1990]

Love and respect to Abebe Bikila 🇪🇹🎉

[@zintonkbur]

He is always the king of Marathon

[@weinetinfilega1980]

The unbreakable man

[@shawaliyaaa]

Proud to be the son of mama Africa And Ethiopia

[@Eboli-dx5mq]

Amazing!

[@jacobselasie7246]

Abebe Bikila obe the Best

[@ermi.t2004]

He is a legendary son of Mama Africa & Ethiopia 🇪🇹

[@anthonyloveanthonylove2159]

Son of Ethiopia allow African thing man, am Ethiopian not African, it’s like India wins something and Chinese celebrates as if it’s their own

[@EMT1bviews]

​@@anthonyloveanthonylove2159 i'm ethiopian and african...who you?

[@anthonyloveanthonylove2159]

@@EMT1bviews am Ethiopian and and Ethiopians only, you can choose to associate yourself with any monkey you like, you probably look like them

[@zelalemeshetu1677]

Foolish man​@@anthonyloveanthonylove2159

[@zulushanx7959]

​@@anthonyloveanthonylove2159Ethiopia is from Africa dude