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The Athlete

2009

92 minutes

DramaHistory

Overview

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.

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Top Cast

Rasselas Lakew headshot

Rasselas Lakew

Abebe Bikila

Dag Malmberg headshot

Dag Malmberg

Onni

Ruta Gedmintas headshot

Ruta Gedmintas

Charlotte

Abba Waka Dessalegn headshot

Abba Waka Dessalegn

. The Priest

Johnny Ashenafi headshot

Johnny Ashenafi

Coach Nega

Woyneshet Belachew headshot

Woyneshet Belachew

Telephone Operator

Abebe Bikila headshot

Abebe Bikila

Himself (archive footage)

Arne Boysen headshot

Arne Boysen

Gunnar Krogsveen

Yeneneh Ezra headshot

Yeneneh Ezra

Emperor Haile Selassie

Fekadu Gemechu headshot

Fekadu Gemechu

Uncle

Mersha Getahun headshot

Mersha Getahun

Bartender

Tigist Gurma headshot

Tigist Gurma

Motel Manager

Benito Mussolini headshot

Benito Mussolini

Himself (archive footage)

Hristo Petkov headshot

Hristo Petkov

Archery coach

Ekaterina Petrova headshot

Ekaterina Petrova

Journalist

Assefa Tegene headshot

Assefa Tegene

Male Border Guard

Zelalem Yetagesu headshot

Zelalem Yetagesu

Rude Officer