00:00He was not expected to compete, he was not expected to win, and he was definitely not expected to make history.
00:11But what if I told you that this Ethiopian runner would become a long distance running legend?
00:19This is Abebe Bekila, the first black African man to win an Olympic gold medal, the first to win for Ethiopia,
00:28the first to win two Olympic marathons, and the first to dominate the sport.
00:35But if you think his achievements are remarkable, wait until you hear his life story.
00:41The son of a shepherd, Bekila was born in 1932 in the rural village of Jato.
00:48After moving to the capital as a teenager, he joined the nation's imperial guard,
00:53an incredibly prestigious role, as he was tasked with protecting the emperor Haile Selassie.
01:00It was here, while serving the most important man in the country, that his potential was first recognized.
01:08He was trained by Swedish coach Oni Niskanen, but Bekila was actually Ethiopia's second best runner.
01:14His teammate, Wami Biratu, was favored for the 1960 Rome Olympics,
01:20but just days before their departure, Biratu fell ill and stayed behind.
01:26When Bekila arrived in Rome, his running shoes had worn out,
01:30and he worried that a new pair would give him blisters.
01:33So he made a bold decision and ran the marathon barefoot.
01:39From start to finish and on the cobblestones of Rome,
01:42Bekila was a complete unknown outside of Ethiopia,
01:47but it didn't take long for him to captivate the world.
01:51He ran a strong and steady race,
01:54keeping pace with favorite Rady Ben Abdestalem from Morocco.
01:58The pair were less than a mile from the end
02:00when Bekila pulled away and crossed the finish line
02:04with a time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 16 seconds.
02:09This was a historic moment,
02:12as not only did he become the first black African man
02:16and first Ethiopian man to win an Olympic gold medal,
02:20but he also set a world record.
02:23Abebe Bekila, the barefoot marathoner, had become a legend.
02:28His victory was more than just a personal triumph.
02:34It was a moment that announced East Africa
02:36as a powerhouse in distance running.
02:40But his success didn't end there.
02:42Four years later, he defended his title at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
02:47Despite undergoing the emergency removal of his appendix,
02:57just 40 days prior, Bekila dominated the marathon,
03:02winning his second gold medal
03:04and setting a new world record.
03:07By winning consecutive Olympic marathons,
03:14he became the first man in history to achieve such a feat.
03:27In 1969, tragedy struck.
03:30A car accident left Bekila paraplegic,
03:34but his story didn't end there.
03:37Despite his paralysis,
03:39he demonstrated extraordinary resilience.
03:41Bekila turned to archery and table tennis.
03:45In 1970, he participated in the Stoke Mandeville Games in London,
03:50an early precursor to the Paralympics.
03:53The following year, he competed in Norway,
03:56where he won the cross-country sleigh riding event
03:59at a competition for disabled athletes.
04:03Abebe Bekila passed away in 1973,
04:07at the age of 41.
04:08His life cut short by complications from his accident.
04:13Ethiopia and the world mourned the loss of a true legend.
04:17Emperor Haile Selassie declared a national day of mourning
04:21and Bekila was given a state funeral.
04:23But his legacy still lives on.
04:27His incredible performances have inspired generations of runners.
04:31A stadium in Addis Ababa is named in his honor
04:35and numerous schools and awards bear his name.
04:39Abebe Bekila remains a symbol of perseverance and triumph,
04:44remembered by people around the world.
04:46And he's not even resting, he's not even breathing hard,
04:57going through a few exercises here,
04:59winning a tremendous race.
05:00A 32-year-old guard in Emperor Haile Selassie's palace guard.
05:04Abebe Bekila of Ethiopia really pouring it on right now.
05:07Just look at him go, ladies and gentlemen.
05:08Abebe Bekila winning the marathon race in Tokyo.
05:12A man who has just undergone a appendicitis operation.
05:15A man racing against a tremendous personal physical handicap.
05:19A first man...
05:20Gracias por ver el video
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