The Athlete
2009Running 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.
Acted in
Rasselas Lakew
as Abebe Bikila
Dag Malmberg
as Onni
Ruta Gedmintas
as Charlotte
Abba Waka Dessalegn
as . The Priest
Johnny Ashenafi
as Coach Nega
Woyneshet Belachew
as Telephone Operator
Abebe Bikila
as Himself (archive footage)
Arne Boysen
as Gunnar Krogsveen
Yeneneh Ezra
as Emperor Haile Selassie
Fekadu Gemechu
as Uncle
Mersha Getahun
as Bartender
Tigist Gurma
as Motel Manager
Benito Mussolini
as Himself (archive footage)
Hristo Petkov
as Archery coach
Ekaterina Petrova
as Journalist
Assefa Tegene
as Male Border Guard
Zelalem Yetagesu
as Rude Officer