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

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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