The Athlete_
Running 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.
Starring
Rasselas Lakew, Dag Malmberg, Ruta Gedmintas
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
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Year context
The Athlete was released 17 years ago in 2009.
Overview
Running the streets of Rome in 1960, an unknown, barefooted Ethiopian man stunned the world by winning Olympic gold in the marathon. Overnight, Abebe Bikila ...
The Athlete is a Drama, History film with a runtime of 1h 32m.
CAST (17)
RL
Rasselas Lakew
Abebe Bikila
Dag Malmberg
Onni
Ruta Gedmintas
Charlotte
AW
Abba Waka Dessalegn
. The Priest
JA
Johnny Ashenafi
Coach Nega
WB
Woyneshet Belachew
Telephone Operator
Abebe Bikila
Himself (archive footage)
AB
Arne Boysen
Gunnar Krogsveen
YE
Yeneneh Ezra
Emperor Haile Selassie
FG
Fekadu Gemechu
Uncle
MG
Mersha Getahun
Bartender
TG
Tigist Gurma
Motel Manager
Benito Mussolini
Himself (archive footage)
Hristo Petkov
Archery coach
EP
Ekaterina Petrova
Journalist
AT
Assefa Tegene
Male Border Guard
ZY
Zelalem Yetagesu
Rude Officer
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
92 min (1h 32m)
Country
ET, Germany, United States
Rating
5.9/10 (9 votes)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Athlete about?
Running 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.
How long is The Athlete?
The Athlete has a runtime of 92 minutes (1h 32m).
Who stars in The Athlete?
The cast of The Athlete includes Rasselas Lakew, Dag Malmberg, Ruta Gedmintas, Abba Waka Dessalegn, Johnny Ashenafi.
What is the rating of The Athlete?
The Athlete has a rating of 5.9 out of 10 based on 9 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (2)
Drama
History
