Abebe Bikila honoured with a Google Doodle

Ethiopian marathon runner, Abebe Bikila, who was also the first sub-Saharan African to win an Olympic gold medal, has been honoured with his very own Google Doodle to celebrate what would have been his 81st birthday today. Bikila passed away at the age of 41 in 1973, and was proclaimed an Ethiopian national hero.

Bikila beat competitors in the 1960 Summer Olympics marathon, barefoot – the way he had trained for the race. He won in record time, finishing 25 seconds ahead of race rival, Rhadi.

In 1964, he made history again, breaking the world record for the marathon, coming in at four minutes and eight seconds in front of the silver medallist. He was the first athlete in history to win the Olympic marathon twice.

“I wanted the world to know that my country, Ethiopia, has always won with determination”, he said.