Abebe Bikila: Barefoot Hero of Rome’s Marathon Glory

Abebe Bikila, an Ethiopian son of a shepherd, stunned the world by winning the Olympic marathon barefoot in 1960 on a warm night in Rome. Spectators lined the streets and Italian soldiers held torches as Bikila, wearing red satin shorts and a black vest, surged ahead in the final mile, outpacing Morocco’s Rhadi Ben Abdesselam. He not only secured the first gold medal for Ethiopia but also set a new world record of 2:15:16.

Bikila’s triumph was extraordinary, given his lack of footwear due to worn-out running shoes. His victory symbolized Africa’s rising prominence during the decolonization era. When Bikila returned home, the nation celebrated him as a hero and Emperor Haile Selassie awarded him the Star of Ethiopia, a new house and a Volkswagen Beetle. Born in 1932 in the rural village of Jato, Bikila began his journey to Olympic glory when he joined the Imperial Guard in Addis Ababa.

Swedish coach Onni Niskanen discovered his talent and trained him for marathons. Initially, Ethiopia didn’t consider Bikila their top runner but he got his chance to compete in Rome after a teammate fell ill. Bikila’s legacy grew when he defended his marathon title at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first person to win consecutive gold medals in the event.

Despite undergoing appendix surgery just weeks before, he set another world record of 2:12:11. In 1969, a car accident left Abebe Bikila paralyzed but he remained resilient, excelling in archery and table tennis and competing in the Stoke Mandeville Games. He died in 1973 at age 41 but his influence endures. Schools, stadiums and awards bear his name and he inspired generations of East African runners including legends like Haile Gebrselassie and Eliud Kipchoge.