The Athlete
DramaHistory
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 LakewAbebe Bikila
Dag MalmbergOnni
Ruta GedmintasCharlotteAbba Waka Dessalegn. The PriestJohnny AshenafiCoach NegaWoyneshet BelachewTelephone Operator
Abebe BikilaHimself (archive footage)Arne BoysenGunnar KrogsveenYeneneh EzraEmperor Haile SelassieFekadu GemechuUncleMersha GetahunBartenderTigist GurmaMotel Manager
Benito MussoliniHimself (archive footage)
Hristo PetkovArchery coachEkaterina PetrovaJournalist
Dag MalmbergOnniRuta GedmintasCharlotteAbba Waka Dessalegn. The PriestJohnny AshenafiCoach NegaWoyneshet BelachewTelephone OperatorAbebe BikilaHimself (archive footage)Arne BoysenGunnar KrogsveenYeneneh EzraEmperor Haile SelassieFekadu GemechuUncleMersha GetahunBartenderTigist GurmaMotel ManagerBenito MussoliniHimself (archive footage)Hristo PetkovArchery coachEkaterina PetrovaJournalist
