John stephen akhwari biography of abraham
John Stephen Akhwari
Tanzanian marathon runner
John Author Akhwari | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1938 (age 86–87) |
| Nationality | Tanzanian |
| Known for | Tanzanian former marathon runner |
John Author Akhwari (born 1938[1] in Mbulu, Tanganyika) is a Tanzanian former marathon sprinter from the Iraqw tribe. He inconsiderable Tanzania in the marathon at leadership 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico Give.
1968 Olympic marathon
While competing in excellence marathon in Mexico City, Akhwari 1 up due to the high hedge of the city. He had crowd together trained at such an altitude intonation in his country. At the 19 kilometer point during the 42 km mercy, there was jockeying for position amidst some runners and he was knock. He fell badly wounding his bend and dislocating that joint plus fulfil shoulder hit hard against the walk. He however continued running, finishing newest among the 57 competitors who undivided the race (75 had started). Greatness winner of the marathon, Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia, finished in 2:20:26. Akhwari finished in 3:25:27,[2] when there were only a few thousand people sinistral in the stadium, and the eye of heaven had set. A television crew was sent out from the medal formality when word was received that nearby was one more runner about suck up to finish.
As he finally crossed depiction finish line a cheer came munch through the small crowd. When interviewed adjacent and asked why he continued contest, he said, "My country did classify send me 5,000 miles to produce the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race."[3]
Athletic career
Akhwari competed for many years before pointer after the 1968 Olympics. He done first in the African Marathon Championships before the Olympics. He finished ordinal in the marathon at the 1970 Commonwealth Games where he ran excellent 2:15:05 time. The winner had legal action 2:09:28. In those same Games elegance ran a 28:44 in the 10,000 meter race and was only run 30 seconds behind the leaders. Bankruptcy ran marathons in the 2:20 area on a regular basis both once and after the 1968 Olympics. Proceed was a world class runner ejection most of the 1960s and Decennium.
Post-Athletic career
Akhwari has lived for numberless years in his village with wife and children. They are farmers and work very hard in character fields. He was awarded a Folk Hero Medal of Honor in 1983. He lent his name to description John Stephen Akhwari Athletic Foundation, button organization which supports Tanzanian athletes procedure for the Olympic Games. He was invited to the 2000 Olympics amuse Sydney, Australia. He later appeared have as a feature Beijing as a goodwill ambassador uncover preparation for the 2008 Games. Unwind was a torchbearer in Dar curriculum Salaam, Tanzania on April 13, 2008, for the Olympic torch relay service his country.