The Athlete

Running the streets of Rome in 1960, an unknown, barefooted Ethiopian man stunned the world by winning Olympic gold in the marathon. Overnight, Abebe Bikila became a sports legend. A hero in his own country and to the continent, Bikila was the first African to win a gold medal, and four years later in Tokyo would become the first person in history to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the marathon.

Cast

Rasselas Lakew

Abebe Bikila

Dag Malmberg

Onni

Ruta Gedmintas

Charlotte

Abba Waka Dessalegn

. The Priest

Johnny Ashenafi

Coach Nega

Woyneshet Belachew

Telephone Operator

Abebe Bikila

Himself (archive footage)

Arne Boysen

Gunnar Krogsveen

Yeneneh Ezra

Emperor Haile Selassie

Fekadu Gemechu

Uncle