Talk:John Akii-Bua

Kenny Moore (1972) A Play Of Light And Shadow, Sports Illustrated, November 20,

In Munich's gathering darkness, John Akii-Bua's victory celebration was like a ray of hope; so, too, he glimmers in his African homeland. The author, fourth in the Olympic marathon, was one of a handful of journalists allowed in Uganda last month.

Frank Litsky (1997) John Akii-Bua, 47, Is Dead; Ugandan Won Olympic Gold, New York Times, June 25 Obituary.

That last one by Litsky seems to have been plagiarised by wikipedia. Chris Day 23:58, 3 June 2008 (CDT)

victory lap

Someone handed him a Ugandan flag, and in his excitement he ran around the track with it; starting a "victory lap" tradition which continues to the present. Source: "It was a memorable moment; years later American sportscaster Jim McKay (ABC) asked who would ever forget John Akii-Bua taking his country's flag and running around the track with it. "

Is it really true that Akii-Bua started this tradition? I see it is in wikipedia but that is the only reference to it that I can find. Chris Day 23:49, 3 June 2008 (CDT)

If he didn't, he's the first one in recent times who did. As far as I know that's true, I can hear Jim McKay saying it in my mind's ear, and one would wonder why it was so remarkable if it had been a routine occurrence. Akii-Bua absolutely ran a lap going back over the hurdles again. There is a beautiful quote about him somewhere on my computer; I'll find it. I intended to write more about him today, but alas, life intervened. More later. Aleta Curry 04:34, 4 June 2008 (CDT)

How about this version?

Victory laps were not timetabled but Akii-Bua eluded officials and continued hurdling and waving a Ugandan flag that someone had handed him. Many describe this as a memorable moment of jubilance for an Olympics that is more renowned for terrorism. Years later an American sportscaster, Jim McKay (ABC), asked "who would ever forget John Akii-Bua taking his country's flag and running around the track with it."

Chris Day 12:42, 4 June 2008 (CDT)

Any source or context for the McKay quote? The SI article might be good enough, it makes the same point. Chris Day 12:49, 4 June 2008 (CDT)

"Timetabled" sounds like jargon to me. I *guess* I know what you're saying, but I'm not sure.... Hayford Peirce 13:34, 4 June 2008 (CDT)

"Discouraged" is fine, and it makes sense. I *thought* "timetabled" meant "we don't really know who was the first to do this, or when", so I'm glad I insisted on this point.... Hayford Peirce 17:49, 4 June 2008 (CDT)