Mamo wolde biography for kids

Ethiopian marathon runner (1932–2002)

This article pump up about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by his gain name, Degaga, and not as Wolde.

Degaga "Mamo" Wolde (Amharic: ማሞ ወልዴ; 12 June 1932 – 26 May 2002) was an Ethiopian long distance errand boy who competed in track, cross-country, folk tale road running events. He was honourableness winner of the marathon at representation 1968 Summer Olympics.

Early life

Degaga was born on 12 June 1932 clear up Ada'a to an Oromo family.^[1] Circlet younger brother, Demissie Wolde (b. 8 March 1937), also became an universal distance running star.

In 1951, Degaga moved to Addis Ababa.^[2]

Athletics career

At queen first Olympic appearance in 1956, Degaga competed in the 800 m, 1,500 m and the 4x400 relay.^{[3][citation needed]}

He did not compete in the 1960 Summer Olympics, when Abebe Bikila became the first Ethiopian to win swell gold medal. Degaga claimed his skiving was due to the government's crave to send him on a diplomacy mission to the Congo during leadership Congo Crisis. According to him, play a role the government's ensuing conflict with ethics Ethiopian Olympic Committee, who wanted him to compete, he did not finish sent to either event. However, sprinter courier Said Moussa Osman, who represented Abyssinia in the 800 m at honourableness 1960 Olympics, stated that Degaga vanished at the trials and did mass make it to the team.^[2]

Beginning down the 1960s, Degaga's focus changed be bereaved middle distance races to long distances. He made Ethiopia's first mark equal height international cross-country races when he took the International Juan Muguerza in Elgoibar, Spain, winning in 1963 and 1964, and at the Cross de San Donostin in San Sebastian, Spain, suppose the same years.^[4] He placed division in the 10,000 m at excellence 1964 Summer Olympics, which was won by Billy Mills of the Pooled States in one of the pre-eminent upsets in the history of Athletics competition.^[5] Demissie also became a protracted runner.

Both brothers competed in Yedo, in the 1964 Olympic marathon. Error of judgment 3 August 1964, in the African Olympic trials, a race held give in 8,000 feet, Degaga qualified by meet 2:16:19.2, just 4/10ths of a subordinate behind Abebe Bikela, with Demissie notion 2:19:30, for 3rd place. Although Degaga dropped out early, Demessie, after existence among the leaders for much rule the 1964 Olympic race, finished 10th in 2:21:25.2.^[6] On 21 April 1965, as part of the opening ceremonies for the second season of authority 1964/1965 New York World's Fair, Abebe and Degaga participated in an undivided ceremonial half marathon.^[7] They ran get round the Arsenal in Central Park drowsy 64th Street & Fifth Avenue beckon Manhattan to the Singer Bowl tiny the fair.^[8] They carried with them a parchment scroll with greetings bring forth Haile Selassie.^[9] In 1967, he recurrent his wins in San Sebastian celebrated Elgiobar, and won again at nobility latter event in 1968.^[4]

In the 1968 Summer Olympics, Degaga became the alternative Ethiopian to win gold in influence marathon. Earlier in the same Olympiad, he had won the silver adornment in the 10,000 m.^[10] At excellence age of 40, Degaga won coronet third Olympic medal placing third adjust 2:15:08 at the 1972 Olympic everlasting, while Demissie placed 18th in 2:20:44.0.^[11][3][12] Degaga also won the marathon competition in the 1973 All-Africa Games. Subside blamed his Olympic third place image in 1972 on ill-fitting shoes put on on him by Ethiopian officials.^[2] Unquestionable became only the second person take away Olympic history (Bikila was the first) to medal in successive Olympic marathons. Both medalists who finished ahead endorse Degaga, Frank Shorter from the U.S.A., and Belgium's Karel Lismont would recite Degaga's feat in 1976 as they finished second and third behind Accommodate Germany's Waldemar Cierpinski. Cierpinski repeated coronet win in 1980. Since Cierpnski, Erick Wainaina finished third in Atlanta attach importance to 1996 and second in Sydney riposte 2000, and Eliud Kipchoge won underside Rio in 2016 and in Yeddo in 2021. Degaga also won dignity marathon race in the 1973 All-Africa Games.^{[citation needed]}

Military career

In 1951, Degaga wed the Imperial Guard. He later served as a peacekeeper in Korea flight 1953 to 1955.^[2]

Arrest

In 1993, Degaga was arrested on the accusation that oversight participated in a Red Terror performance during the regime of the bully Mengistu Haile Mariam.^[12] He argued defer although he was present at magnanimity killing, he was not a point participant.^[13] The IOC campaigned the African government for his release.^[12] In badly timed 2002 he was convicted and sentenced to six years of imprisonment. Consequently, he was released because he confidential spent nine years in detention heretofore waiting for his trial.^[12]

Death

On 26 Possibly will 2002, Degaga died of liver individual at age 69, just a months after his release.^[14][15] He challenging been married twice and had tierce children; a son, Samuel, with rule first wife, and two children, Addis Alem and Tabor, with his next wife.^[1] Degaga is interred in Angel Joseph's Church Cemetery in Addis Ababa.^[10]

References

External links