ማራቶን ማራቶን ማራቶን ልእልትዋ

አበበ ና ማሞ ሆኑ ባለቤትዋ፥፥

አበበ ቢሰበር በእግር ወለምታ

ማሞ ተተካለት በእጅ ሰላምታ፥፥

(The Sheba Post). Abebe Bikila was legendary Ethiopian athletes and first African to win Olympic Gold Medal. It would be an understatement if we say that his famous barefoot win in Rome had inspired the entire nation of Ethiopia, the African continent and black people all over the world. And that historic win also rang the coming of African as free people from the shadow of European colonialism.

More importantly, that famous win of Abebe Bikila couldn’t have been more significant and source of immense pride for Ethiopia considering where it happened-in Rome.

According to Time ‘Bikila's triumph was all the more stunning because it happened in the capital of Ethiopia's former military occupier. Legend has it that Abebe Bikila made his decisive move in the race just as he passed the Axum Obelisk, a towering stela that Mussolini had brought back from Ethiopia as war loot.’

Abebe Bikila would repeat his win four years later in the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, this time with shoes. Abebe’s win in Tokyo had made him the first person in Olympic history to win successive gold.

Through his determination and rare winning character Abebe Bikila had laid the foundation for the success of generation of Ethiopian athletes. Abebe Bikila was the father of Ethiopian athletics whose unparallel influence runs deep in the bloods of Ethiopian athletes. Thanks to Abebe, now Ethiopia has become synonymous with long distance running. Thanks to Abebe, generation of Ethiopians shined and continued to shine at the world stage. Athletes such as Mamo Wolde, Miruts Yifter, Derartu Tullu, Fatuma Roba, Gezahegne Abera, Haile Gebresilassie, Meseret Defar, Kenenisa Bekele, Tirunesh Dibaba, Tiki Gelana and many more owe their success to Abebe Bikila.

The winning tradition of Ethiopian athletes has also been illustrated in the London Olympics. Once again, our athletes have made us proud at the grandest of all stages in the world of sport. With the men’s marathon still remaining, among African countries Ethiopia’s medal standing is second only to South Africa. Though, the result fell short of our expectation, what our athletes have achieved in London is respectable and have become sense of pride to the entire nation.

Three Ethiopians will be participating in Sunday’s marathon carrying in their back a rare and long tradition started by Abebe Bikila. Tradition that was passed to Mamo Wolde and Gezahegne Abera. Athletes Ayele Abshiro, Dino Sefer and Getu Feleke are the three Ethiopian who will be participating in Sunday’s marathon. Sunday’s race present a glorious opportunity to Ayele, Dino and Getu  to write their own history along with the one that was started by barefoot in the cobblestone street of Rome in 1960. Good luck to our athletes and God bless Ethiopia!

Also read One more chance to our athletes in London!