10 Facts About Mamo Wolde

Degaga "Mamo" Wolde was an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competed in track, cross-country, and road running events.

Mamo Wolde was the winner of the marathon at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Mamo Wolde did not compete in the 1960 Summer Olympics, when Abebe Bikila became the first Ethiopian to win a gold medal.

Mamo Wolde made Ethiopia's first mark at 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, in the same years.

Mamo Wolde placed fourth in the 10,000 m at the 1964 Summer Olympics, which was won by Billy Mills of the United States in one of the biggest upsets in the history of Olympic competition.

Mamo Wolde blamed his Olympic third place showing in 1972 on ill-fitting shoes forced on him by Ethiopian officials.

Mamo Wolde became only the second person in Olympic history to medal in successive Olympic marathons.

Mamo Wolde later served as a peacekeeper in Korea from 1953 to 1955.

Mamo Wolde argued that although he was present at the killing, he was not a direct participant.

Mamo Wolde had been married twice and had three children; a son, Samuel, with his first wife, and two children, Addis Alem and Tabor, with his second wife.