Abebe Bikila | Origin of Street Names

Abebe Bikila (1932-1973), the legendary "barefoot champion," was one of the greatest marathon runners in the history of this athletic discipline.

Born the son of a shepherd in a small Ethiopian village, he joined the Imperial Guard of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie at a very young age to provide for his family. By sheer chance, his physique and athletic abilities were noticed by Swedish coach Onni Niskanen, which marked the beginning of a brilliant sports career for one of the most popular Ethiopians and athletes of all time.

Right from the start, at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Abebe Bikila captured the hearts of the audience by winning the gold medal - barefoot. He achieved the same result four years later in Tokyo, setting a world record and becoming the only marathon runner to win consecutive Olympic gold medals to this day.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, in 1969, while driving his Volkswagen Beetle, he was involved in a serious car accident that left him permanently paralyzed. Even with such a heavy fate, his sporting spirit was not defeated, and he participated in several occasions in the Paralympic Games. However, four years after the accident, he passed away, but his legacy continued to live on as an everlasting inspiration far beyond the borders of his homeland.

Today, numerous sports facilities, stadiums, and streets around the world bear the name of Abebe Bikila, including one located in Altina, a neighborhood in the municipality of Zemun, Belgrade.