Miruts Yifter
Runner
Long-distance runner remembered for winning two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and a bronze at the 1972 Munich games.
He took home a gold medal at the 1973 All-Africa Games, winning the 10,000 meters race; he also won two gold medals at the 1979 1st African Championships.
His Olympic ascension was interrupted in 1976 when Ethiopia boycotted the games taking place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
He was born into a blue-collar family and worked many factory jobs as a young man and was also a carriage driver; he eventually enlisted with the Ethiopian Air Force.
He was surpassed by Finland's Lasse Viren, who won the gold in the 10,000 meters competition at the 1972 Munich games.