The Athlete

The Athlete

Running the streets of Rome in 1960, an unknown, barefooted Ethiopian man stunned the world by winning Olympic gold in the marathon. Overnight, Abebe Bikila became a sports legend. A hero in his own country and to the continent, Bikila was the first African to win a gold medal, and four years later in Tokyo would become the first person in history to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the marathon.

Cast for The Athlete...

Rasselas Lakew
Abebe Bikila
Johnny Ashenafi
Coach Nega
Woyneshet Belachew
Telephone Operator
Abebe Bikila
Himself (archive footage)
Arne Boysen
Gunnar Krogsveen
Yeneneh Ezra
Emperor Haile Selassie
Tigist Gurma
Motel Manager
Benito Mussolini
Himself (archive footage)
Hristo Petkov
Archery coach
Assefa Tegene
Male Border Guard
Zelalem Yetagesu
Rude Officer