Which athlete won the 1960 Olympic marathon while representing Ethiopia?

Abebe Bikila won the 1960 Olympic marathon while representing Ethiopia.

Bikila’s victory in Rome was Ethiopia’s first Olympic gold medal and the first gold won by a Black African athlete. He completed the course in 2:15:16, a world-best performance at the time. His barefoot finish became one of the most recognizable images in Olympic marathon history.

The course passed through central Rome and finished near the Arch of Constantine. Bikila had not planned to run barefoot as a publicity stunt; he removed his issued shoes because they caused discomfort during the race.

This result is distinct from Bikila’s 1964 Olympic victory in Tokyo, when he won wearing shoes. It is also separate from Mamo Wolde’s 1968 Olympic win in Mexico City, another Ethiopian triumph that continued the country’s marathon tradition.