Desta Asgedom

Desta Asgedom (29 February 1972 – 1 September 1992) was an Ethiopian athlete who specialised in middle distance races. A world junior 800 metres champion and an All-Africa Games silver medalist, he died in the United States not long after these achievements.

Desta Asgedom
Personal information
Birth nameDesta Asgedom
Born(1972-02-29)29 February 1972
Ethiopia
Died1 September 1992(1992-09-01) (aged 20)
Pico Rivera, California, U.S.
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight61.2 kg (135 lb)
Sport
Country Ethiopia
SportMiddle-distance running
Event(s)800 metres / 1500 metres
Medal record
Men's Athletics
All-Africa Games
1991 Cairo1500 metres
African Championships
1990 Cairo800 metres

Biography

Asgedom first came to prominence in 1990 with his performances at the World Junior Championships in Bulgaria, where he won a gold medal in the 800 metres and claimed a bronze medal in the 1500 metres race.[1] In the same year he was a bronze medalist in the 800 metres at the African Championships in Cairo.[2]

In 1991 he competed in the World Championships, which were held in Tokyo.[3] Soon after he represented Ethiopia at the 1991 All-Africa Games and finished with the silver medal in the 1500 metres.[4]

He came to the United States early in 1992 to attend California's Riverside Community College.[5] In August he got an offer of a scholarship to Wayland Baptist in Texas and spent a week on campus before deciding to decline, due to the lack of a large Ethiopian community, like there was at Riverside.[5]

Death

Asgedom was killed when on 1 September 1992 he was struck by a pickup truck while out running on Washington Boulevard in Pico Rivera, California.[5] He died from his injuries at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital, 25 minutes after being hit.[5] His death was ruled a suicide by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.[5] The verdict from the Sheriff's Department was based on the results of an autopsy and witnesses accounts.[5] The truck driver said that Asgedom had been standing facing traffic waiting to cross and made eye contact before he dove in front of the incoming vehicle.[5] Two other witnesses corroborated the claim that Asgedom had jumped in front of the truck.[5]

His coach, Ted Banks, described Asgedom as a "tremendous runner" who with some more experience "had the potential to be an Olympic medal winner".[5]

References
  1. "IAAF World Junior Championships". gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  2. "African Championships". gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  3. "Athletics: World Championships". The Canberra Times. 27 August 1991. p. 19. Retrieved 2 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Athletics: All-Africa Games". The Canberra Times. 28 September 1991. p. 50. Retrieved 2 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. Lee, Kirby (11 September 1992). "Tragic Course". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
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