Abebe Bikila: He Ran a Marathon Without Shoes… and Won Olympic Gold
Level A2 (Elementary) · Watch the video and do the online quiz at https://brightlivesenglish.com/lessons/abebe-bikila-barefoot/
A Match the words to their meanings
- guard (noun)
- fit (verb)
- barefoot (adverb)
- street (noun)
- finish line (noun)
- night race (noun)
- pace (noun)
- national team (noun)
- the line at the end of a race
- the team that plays or runs for a country
- how fast you walk or run
- to be the right size for you
- a race that happens in the dark
- a road in a town or city
- a person who protects someone or something
- with nothing on your feet
B Complete the sentences from the story
streets · guard · national team · fit · finish line · pace · barefoot · night race
- He ran for Ethiopia's .
- The Rome marathon was a .
- He ran through the of Rome.
- He became a for the Emperor of Ethiopia.
- His new shoes did not .
- He decided to run .
- He crossed the first.
- Near the end, he ran at a faster .
C Did you understand?
- His new shoes were perfect.True / False
- What was his job in Ethiopia?
- A teacher
- A guard for the Emperor
- A doctor
- A shop owner
- Where did he win his first Olympic marathon?
- Tokyo
- Addis Ababa
- Rome
- London
- He won the Olympic marathon two times.True / False
D Put the words in order
- without / He / shoes / ran
E Grammar: without + noun
We use it for to say that someone does not have something. He ran without shoes. · He ran through Rome without shoes.
Example from the story: He ran without shoes.
- He ran shoes. (without / with no a / not)
- I drink tea without . (sugar / drink / happy)
- She left home without her . (keys / go / quickly)
F Your turn
Retell Abebe Bikila's story in 5–6 sentences. Use at least three words from exercise A.
Transcript
His new shoes did not fit.
So he ran 42 kilometres through Rome without shoes.
Could he win?
This is the story of Abebe Bikila.
Welcome to brightlivesenglish.com, where we teach real English using real-life stories.
Guard. A guard protects someone or something.
He became a guard for the Emperor of Ethiopia.
Fit. If shoes fit, they are the right size.
His new shoes did not fit.
Barefoot. Barefoot means with nothing on your feet.
He decided to run barefoot.
Street. A street is a road in a town.
He ran through the streets of Rome.
Finish line. The finish line is the end of a race.
He crossed the finish line first.
Now, one pattern: without, and a noun.
It means not having something.
He ran without shoes.
Ready? Let's begin.
Abebe Bikila was born in Ethiopia in 1932.
Later, he moved to Addis Ababa.
He became a guard for the Emperor of Ethiopia.
A coach from Sweden saw him run.
In 1960, he went to the Olympic marathon in Rome.
But his new shoes did not fit.
They hurt his feet.
He decided to run barefoot.
He ran without shoes!
The race started in the evening, and soon it was dark.
He ran through the streets of Rome.
Near the end, he passed a tall stone tower.
Italy took it from Ethiopia years before.
Then Abebe, still without shoes, ran faster.
He crossed the finish line first, in a world best time.
He was the first Olympic champion from Ethiopia.
Four years later, in Tokyo, he won again, in shoes.
About five weeks before, he had an operation!
He was the first to win the Olympic marathon twice.
Let's review. He became a guard for the Emperor of Ethiopia.
His new shoes did not fit.
He decided to run barefoot.
He ran through the streets of Rome.
He crossed the finish line first.
And remember: he ran without shoes.
Abebe Bikila's story teaches us: you don't need perfect things to do great things.
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Answer key
A. 1g 2d 3h 4f 5a 6e 7c 8b
B. 1 national team · 2 night race · 3 streets · 4 guard · 5 fit · 6 barefoot · 7 finish line · 8 pace
C. 1 False · 2 b · 3 c · 4 True
D. 1 He ran without shoes.
E. 1 without · 2 sugar · 3 keys