Fdip251: Running Legend Abebe Bikila

Today I will tell you about an amazing person who lived his life to the top.  It’s an interesting life with high and low points, with obstacles which were overcome leading towards an eventual spiral into disaster…but in the end, redemption and glory.

Abebe Bikila was the first black African to win a gold medal at the Olympics, winning the Mens Marathon in Rome which he completed barefoot!

The headlines in the Newspapers and on the radio proclaimed the fact that it had taken an entire Italian army to conquer Ethiopia, but only one Ethiopian soldier to conquer Rome!

Links:

http://www.answers.com/topic/abebe-bikila

http://www.audiblepodcast.com/phedi

The song “Salala” was by Angelique Kidjo; with background vocals by Peter Gabriel. http://www.kidjo.com

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