The Ethiopian runner wasn’t even supposed to be on his country’s Olympic squad, but was added at the last moment when a teammate became ill.
Abebe Bikila arrived in Italy for the 1960 Rome Games with only one pair of running shoes. By the time it came for him to take part in the marathon, these were too worn out. Unable to find a pair which fit comfortably, he decided to run the race barefoot.
Bikila was treated with derision as he began the race, with The Guardian reporting that one commentator asked, “Who is this Ethiopian?”
But shoeless, unknown Bikila won gold, along the way smashing the Olympic record with a time of 2:15:16.
I call this “Personal Accountability.” I am accountable for me and my response to the events that happen in my life.
A leader stops leading when they offer excuses for what is, what could have been or what they might do. No! Excuses are the pathway to lost vision and lost passion. People don’t follow excuses. They follow leadership.
Abebe Bikila could have raised all sorts of excuses to not run that marathon. No one would have blamed him. Instead he took a less than positive circumstance and decided to live into it.
What is pushing on you right now? How are you giving in? How are you pushing through?
Don’t go the way of blame. Take what you face and do something great.
By the way, just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, Bikila returned in 1964 and won again, this time with shoes!
Jeff Raker
Level Up Leadership Coaching
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