Ethiopia became the first sub-Saharan African nation to win an Olympic gold medal.
The milestone came at Rome 1960, when Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila won the men’s marathon. He finished in 2:15:16, setting a world best and becoming the first Black African Olympic champion in the modern Games.
Bikila famously ran barefoot because his shoe sponsor’s footwear did not fit comfortably. His victory made him an international sporting figure and helped establish Ethiopia’s long-distance running tradition.
The phrase “first African Olympic gold” can cause confusion because South Africa, a country in Africa, had won Olympic gold medals before 1960. Ethiopia’s distinction is specifically being the first country from sub-Saharan Africa to produce an Olympic gold medalist. Bikila later won the marathon again at Tokyo 1964, becoming the first athlete to win two Olympic marathons.