๐ฒ Want to watch live sport and original documentaries for free? Check out our website:
William Mervin “Billy” Mills, born on June 30, 1938 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, is a former US long-distance runner and Olympic champion. His Native American name was Makata Taka Hela, which means “respect the earth/land”. ๐ชถ
Mills’ path to Olympic victory was not easy. He grew up in poverty on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and had to cope with the loss of his parents as a child. But running offered him a way to deal with his difficulties and strengthen his spirit.
His talent was recognized early and he won several championships while still at school. In 1964, he finally made it to the Olympic qualifiers and competed in the 10,000-meter race in Tokyo.
The race developed into a dramatic duel between Mills and the Australian Ron Clarke. In the final laps, Mills was seemingly hopelessly behind, but with an incredible final spurt he overtook Clarke and sensationally secured the gold medal.
His victory was not only a personal triumph, but also a symbol of hope for indigenous peoples around the world. Mills’ story shows that with willpower, determination and belief in yourself, anything is possible. ๐ฅ๐
_____________________________________________________
๐จ๐ณ #Beijing2022 replays:
๐ฏ๐ต #Tokyo2020 replays:
๐๏ธ News from the Olympic world:
