In 1960, Ethiopian athlete Abebe Bikila shocked the whole world and became an overnight sporting legend when he ran barefoot through Rome to win gold in the Olympic marathon. Virtually unknown in the world of sport, and substituted into the team only at the last minute (after Wami Biratu had broken his ankle in a soccer match), Bikila was the first African to win the Olympic gold medal. He repeated the feat at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics – this time wearing shoes and socks, despite an operation for appendicitis six weeks prior – finishing in the record time of 2 hours 12 minutes (and 11.2 seconds) and becoming the first person in history to win consecutive gold medals. Now widely acknowledged as the greatest long-distance runner the world has ever known, Bikila gloriously returned to Ethiopia as an international sporting hero, before his life took a shocking and cataclysmic twist. This intriguing and elegant hybrid of documentary and biopic follows Bikila from his early days as a shepherd and soldier in Ethiopia, through his triumphant wins in Rome and Tokyo, to the aftermath of the tragic car accident in Addis Ababa that left him paralysed from the waist down and fighting for his life. His phenomenal journey is described here in loving detail, the intimate screenplay displaying a keen understanding of this incredible man and his defiant spirit. Rasselas Lakew (who co-wrote, directed and produced with Davey Frankel) shines in the central role, bringing a quiet determination and an impressive depth to his portrayal of this extraordinary sportsman. Lakew’s impassioned performance is pitch-perfect, especially when depicting Bikila’s struggle to find reason when running is no longer an option, desperately searching for new ways to compete that will, in turn, refresh his faltering will to live. With its seamless mix of tender, painstakingly recreated period drama and genuine, breathtaking archive footage of Bikila’s inspirational success, The Athlete was clearly a labour of love for Frankel and Lakew. The result is a moving celebration of the astonishing life of a national treasure that speaks volumes about the true nature of competitive sport.