Abebe Bikila won the men's marathon at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome while running barefoot.
The Ethiopian athlete finished in 2:15:16, setting a world best and becoming the first Black African Olympic champion. He ran without shoes because his supplied footwear was uncomfortable, and he had trained barefoot in Ethiopia.
Bikila's victory was especially memorable because the marathon finished near the Arch of Constantine, close to the ancient Roman roads. His result announced Ethiopia as a major distance-running nation and made him an international sporting figure.
Many summaries incorrectly describe Bikila as the first athlete to win an Olympic marathon barefoot, but the key historical fact is his 1960 victory and record-setting time. He successfully defended his title at Tokyo in 1964, becoming the first athlete to win two Olympic marathons.