Abebe Bikila

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/abebe-bikila

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Abebe Bikila born?August 7, 1932
2. Where was Abebe Bikila born?Shewa, Ethiopia
3. What is the total marathons competed?Sixteen
4. What is Abebe Bikila famous for?He won two Olympic gold medals in the marathon, first barefoot in Rome and later with shoes in Tokyo.
5. Why did he run barefoot in the 1960 Olympics?He was used to training without shoes and felt comfortable that way.

Ethiopian Imperial Guard: An elite military unit responsible for the personal security of the Emperor of Ethiopia.
World Record Holder: An athlete who has achieved the fastest time or highest score ever recorded in a specific event.
Adaptive Sports: Sports modified to allow participation by individuals with disabilities.
Paralympic Games Predecessor: Events like the Stoke Mandeville Games that laid the groundwork for the modern Paralympic Games.