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How to Finish a Marathon - 1968 Olympics in Mexico City

July 15, 2007 by Jimson Lee

In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Tanzanian runner John Stephen Ahkwari was the last runner in the marathon.

He came in about an hour and a half after the winner, practically carrying his leg, as it was so bloodied and bandaged.

Film Director Bud Greenspan asked him, “Why did you keep going?” He said, “You don’t understand. My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start a race, they sent me to finish it.”

Here is the video (duration 2min:19sec)


Video thumbnail. Click to play
Tanzania’s John Stephen Ahkwari - Click To Play

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Written by Jimson Lee · Filed Under Marathons, Olympic History, Track and Field, Videos 

Comments

5 Responses to “How to Finish a Marathon - 1968 Olympics in Mexico City”

  1. Top 10 Sprint Races - #5 - Bert Cameron 1984 Olympics 400m semi-final | Speedendurance.com on October 12th, 2007 2:08 am

    […] pulled hamstring in 1992 Barcelona! However, that race did show us the importance of finishing in the Olympics, and not […]

  2. Bob Hayes 1964 Olympic 4×100m Relay in HD Video | SpeedEndurance.com on March 25th, 2009 8:19 pm

    […] 2nd Gold medal with shoes) are followed right to the end showing the last finishers. The 1968 Marathon finish would have its fair share of heroics. Of course, we have Bob Hayes individual 100m victory over […]

  3. Ten Days Without Food: Notes from a Fast « sum.ology on March 26th, 2009 6:54 am

    […] In many ways, this cleanse is like a marathon.  You know from the outset where the finish line is.  Ten days and 26.2 miles is a long way from square one.  Mentally, you know the only way to reach the end is to take the next step–you can’t just jump there.  This is both disconcerting and comforting.  On day 2, one step doesn’t seem to make up much ground.  Somehow, the steps start to add up and you find yourself at day 8.  The next step brings you much closer to the goal. […]

  4. Getting started Monday! - Page 35 - Transformation Forum on July 7th, 2009 5:42 pm

    […] the finish line, but I will go ahead and finish" I looked it up online - here is the story http://speedendurance.com/2007/07/15/how-to-finish-a-marathon-1968-olympics-in-mexico-city/ Tammy- I was so happy to log on and see you!!! I have missed you! No one can blame you for wanting […]

  5. 10K Training on August 19th, 2009 9:16 pm

    Ohh, that runner was great. But what was actual reason he completed race where there was no hope for winning anything?

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