Abebe Bikila Award

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Abebe Bikila Award
Presented by New York Road Runners
First award1978

The Abebe Bikila Award is an annual prize given by the New York Road Runners club (NYRR) to honour individuals who have made a significant contribution to the sport of long-distance running. The first recipient of the award was Ted Corbitt, a founder of both NYRR and the Road Runners Club of America, who received the honour on October 27, 1978. [1] The award is named in honour of the two-time Olympic marathon winner Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia.

Contents

Past winners of the award include: Olympic gold medallists Frank Shorter, Rosa Mota and Lasse Virén; world record breakers Paula Radcliffe, Khalid Khannouchi and Paul Tergat; and multiple major marathon winners Grete Waitz, Alberto Salazar and Joan Samuelson. [2] [3]

While the award has typically been associated with elite level runners, particularly marathon runners, it has also been given to non-athletes. Fred Lebow – creator of the New York Marathon – became the first person to win the award who was not a professional athlete in 1995. The 2001 award was given to Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani on the basis of his dedication to the city in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. [4] The 2009 winner, long-time road running organiser and event director Allan Steinfeld, was the third non-professional athlete to receive the award. [5] The Rudin family, long-time sponsors of the New York Marathon, were the first non-individual recipients of the award in 2012. [6]

The award is closely linked with NYRR's annual International Friendship Run, a four-mile fun run from United Nations Plaza to Central Park, which is held immediately following the official award presentation event. [7]

Recipients

Czech runner Emil Zatopek was the first foreign winner. Fotothek df roe-neg 0006305 010 Emil Zatopek bei einem Wettkampf.jpg
Czech runner Emil Zátopek was the first foreign winner.
Olympic marathon winner Sohn Kee-chung of Korea was the first Asian to receive the prize. Sohn Kee-chung (Kitei Son) Marathon 1936 Summer Olympics.jpg
Olympic marathon winner Sohn Kee-chung of Korea was the first Asian to receive the prize.
Joan Samuelson was the second female athlete to take the award. Joan Benoit 2008.jpg
Joan Samuelson was the second female athlete to take the award.
YearRecipientCountry
1978 Ted Corbitt Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1979 Emil Zátopek Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakia
1980 Lasse Virén Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
1981 Frank Shorter Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1982 Mamo Wolde Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
1983 Grete Waitz Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
1984 Derek Clayton Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1985 John Adelbert Kelley Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1986 Joan Samuelson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1987 Sohn Kee-chung Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
1988 Alberto Salazar Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1989 Bill Rodgers Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1990 Waldemar Cierpinski Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
1991 Alain Mimoun Flag of France.svg  France
1992 Ingrid Kristiansen Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
1993 Rod Dixon Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
1994 Juma Ikangaa Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
1995 Fred Lebow Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1996 Orlando Pizzolato Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
1997 Lisa Ondieki Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1998 Rosa Mota Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal
1999 Tegla Loroupe Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
2000 Khalid Khannouchi Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2001 Rudolph Giuliani Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2002 Allison Roe Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2003 Kathrine Switzer Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2004 Stefano Baldini Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2005 Mizuki Noguchi Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2006 Paula Radcliffe Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
2007Not awarded
2008 Lornah Kiplagat Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2009 Allan Steinfeld Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2010 Paul Tergat Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
2011 Germán Silva Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
2012Not awarded
2013 Rudin family Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 Norbert Sander Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Haile Gebrselassie Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
2016 Mary Wittenberg Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2017 Meb Keflezighi Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2018 Deena Kastor Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2019 Jenny Simpson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2020Not awarded
2021 Eliud Kipchoge Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
2022 Nina Kuscsik Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2023 Patti Catalano Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

References

  1. ↑ This Week in NYRR History Archived May 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine . New York Road Runners. Retrieved on 2010-10-31.
  2. ↑ Radcliffe named as Abebe Bikila Award Winner. IAAF/NYRR (2006-10-28). Retrieved on 2010-10-31.
  3. ↑ Tergat to receive the Abebe Bikila Award . IAAF/NYRR (2010-10-28). Retrieved on 2010-10-31.
  4. ↑ Litsky, Frank (2001-11-03). PLUS: ROAD RACING; Road Runners Club To Honor Giuliani. The New York Times . Retrieved on 2010-10-31.
  5. ↑ Gambacinni, Peter (2009-10-28). Allan Steinfeld Wins Abebe Bikila Award. Runners World . Retrieved on 2010-10-31.
  6. ↑ Gambaccini, Peter (2012-10-16). Rudin Family Will Get NYRR's Abebe Bikila Award. Runners' World. Retrieved on 2013-02-23.
  7. ↑ Peace, Love, and... We Understand that the Race Is Tomorrow Archived 2010-08-06 at the Wayback Machine . New York Marathon. Retrieved on 2010-10-31.
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