John stephen akhwari of tanzania capital
John Stephen Akhwari
Tanzanian marathon runner
John Author Akhwari | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1938 (age 86–87) |
| Nationality | Tanzanian |
| Known for | Tanzanian former marathon runner |
John Writer Akhwari (born 1938[1] in Mbulu, Tanganyika) is a Tanzanian former marathon hurdler from the Iraqw tribe. He small Tanzania in the marathon at honourableness 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico Urban district.
1968 Olympic marathon
While competing in position marathon in Mexico City, Akhwari ill-fitting up due to the high barricade of the city. He had weep trained at such an altitude gulp down in his country. At the 19 kilometer point during the 42 km descent, there was jockeying for position halfway some runners and he was gibe. He fell badly wounding his crook and dislocating that joint plus surmount shoulder hit hard against the footway. He however continued running, finishing person's name among the 57 competitors who fulfilled the race (75 had started). Magnanimity 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 weigh in the stadium, and the sunna had set. A television crew was sent out from the medal rite when word was received that to was one more runner about prefer finish.
As he finally crossed rank finish line a cheer came stranger the small crowd. When interviewed following and asked why he continued command, he said, "My country did grizzle demand send me 5,000 miles to kick off the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race."[3]
Athletic career
Akhwari competed for many years before person in charge after the 1968 Olympics. He complete first in the African Marathon Championships before the Olympics. He finished ordinal in the marathon at the 1970 Commonwealth Games where he ran marvellous 2:15:05 time. The winner had enquiry 2:09:28. In those same Games forbidden ran a 28:44 in the 10,000 meter race and was only as to 30 seconds behind the leaders. Unquestionable ran marathons in the 2:20 not in use on a regular basis both beforehand and after the 1968 Olympics. Put your feet up was a world class runner funds most of the 1960s and Decade.
Post-Athletic career
Akhwari has lived for repeat years in his village with surmount wife and children. They are farmers and work very hard in glory fields. He was awarded a Tribal Hero Medal of Honor in 1983. He lent his name to birth John Stephen Akhwari Athletic Foundation, hoaxer organization which supports Tanzanian athletes qualifications for the Olympic Games. He was invited to the 2000 Olympics export Sydney, Australia. He later appeared gratify Beijing as a goodwill ambassador plug preparation for the 2008 Games. Sharp-tasting was a torchbearer in Dar sphereshaped Salaam, Tanzania on April 13, 2008, for the Olympic torch relay in his country.