Which Ethiopian runner won Olympic marathon gold barefoot in 1960?

Abebe Bikila won Olympic marathon gold barefoot in 1960.

The Ethiopian athlete won the Rome Olympic marathon on 10 September 1960 in a world-record time of 2:15:16. He ran without shoes after deciding that his footwear was uncomfortable and did not provide the feel he wanted on the course.

Bikila’s victory made him the first Black African Olympic champion. The race finished beneath the Arch of Constantine, and the route passed through historic parts of Rome, including areas lit by torchlight.

Four years later, at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Bikila won again, becoming the first athlete to win the Olympic marathon twice. He competed only weeks after an appendectomy and this time wore shoes. His achievements helped inspire the later rise of East African distance running.