biography
pronunciation:
[bikeela]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1932–73)
|
| biography:
| Marathon runner, born in Jato, Ethiopia. Virtually unknown, and running in bare feet, he won the marathon at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, setting a new world record and becoming the first black African to win a gold medal. He made further history as the first to win consecutive Olympic marathons when he successfully defended his title in 1964. |
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