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Fatuma Roba Quotes
born 1973 Ethiopia
Fatuma Roba (born 18 December 1973) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner, best known for being the first African woman to win a gold medal in the women's Olympic marathon race at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics and for winning three successive Boston Marathons.
Random Fatuma Roba quote
16 quotes
Never again, never again will I do this distance, it is too long.
I do not really want to be famous,But it's nice to be among the renowned athletes.
They thought I should be doing women things.
I'm very happy to win a second time, I found it to be a very easy race.
I am hoping to make history, I feel like I have made good preparation.
Even if I never ran again, I would have been content.
This is not only a special thing for me but also for my country and all African women.
They all went out of their way, getting us awards and everything.
I've been told there is a big hill, but I didn't see it.
Well, for me the greatest of all marathons is of course the olympic marathon, but second place is Boston.
Sometimes, if there are a lot of people around me when I go to a store, I feel a bit intimidated. I used to be shy. I still consider myself shy, but I'm a little better now and I'm getting used to it.
I really did not get any encouragement from anyone, but I pushed on because I liked to run. I made my first national team in 1988.
The reaction I felt from people had a big impact on me, I suddenly felt such a great sense of responsibility. I felt that I had to try to keep running, as long as I possibly could.
I knew I would be the Olympic Champion. I was running and the others were looking backwards, so I understood that they were tired, when for me the pace was easy. It was nice, because I could run strong and enjoy.
Before the race I was afraid of the others with better times, but soon I realized that they were not running fast today, I picked up the speed and they would not follow. At that point I was already sure that I would win because I practiced very hard.
I knew of 1960 Olympic marathon winner Abebe Bikila and 1968 winner Mamo Wolde from the radio, so I thought I’d try it, too.
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