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- Abebe Bikila of Ethiopa was the first black
- African to win an Olympic marathon and the
- first runner to win two consecutive Olympic
- marathons. At the 1960 Games, in Rome,
- Italy, the 28-year-old Abebe was an
- unknown runner whom no one expected to
- win. Nevertheless, Abebe, who ran the
- Olympic marathon barefooted through the
- paved streets, ran the fastest marathon ever
- and took the gold. In 1964, Abebe ran the
- Olympic marathon again. Not only were the
- other runners ready for him this time, but
- just 40 days before the Olympics, Abebe
- had had his appendix removed. Abebe still
- won the marathon, by 4 minutes, 18
- seconds. Once again, he ran the fastest
- marathon time ever! Only this time, Abebe
- wore shoes.