At the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, one man from a small, ancient country in Africa truly represented the wing-footed, mythological Roman "messenger of the Gods" Mercury. His name was Adebe Bikila, his country Ethiopia (Abyssinia), and his message to the world was don't underestimate the championship heart of a people in love with their country.
Two nights ago, I watched the movie "The Athlete," a wonderful foreign film based on Adebe's life. The film is done well in a sort of documentary style, putting the focus on this proud, simple man who becomes a legendary hero to his country by running a 26-mile marathon for the ages.
To know the combative history between Ethiopia and Italy adds to the irony and significance of an Ethiopian victory in any competition hosted in Italy, much less the Olympics. And he did it BAREFOOT!
And not only Ethiopia but Africa, a continent whose countries were finally breaking loose the chains of European colonization, were invested in seeing an African victorious against world competition. Adebe's victory was a continental victory. A first in many ways and a trend-setter for future African athletes.
I could go on about the movie and the man, but rather than spoil a viewer's experience of watching it I urge those who love sports, love culture, and love incredible tales of real-life accomplishments to seek out this hidden gem of a story.
Between 1960-1969, thirty-five African countries gained independence from former European colonizers. Seventeen of them in 1960 alone.
How Italy Was Defeated In East Africa In 1941 | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk)
The Partition of Africa • (blackpast.org)
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