Tekeste Woldu

When Tekeste Woldu was 12-years-old he began working in a bicycle repair shop and soon became a keen cyclist. Woldu was eventually called up to the Ethiopian national cycling team after winning several races, and by 1968 he had earned himself a place on their Olympic team. Despite suffering with multiple mechanical issues during the road race, he was able to finish 53rd overall, just over 20 minutes behind the winner. Several Italian athletes and trainers were impressed by Woldu’s performance, inviting him to spend time in Italy, with him competing in races there during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

In 1972 Woldu was again selected to represent Ethiopia at the Olympics, riding in both the road race and team time trial at the München Games. He repeated his performance in the road race, once again finishing 53rd, this time in the main peloton of riders who were only two-and-a-half minutes behind the winner. The following year Woldu won gold in the road race at the All-Africa Games in Lagos. His brief but promising career was cut short when the Ethiopian government demanded that he return to his homeland and only represent the national team. As an Eritrean, Woldu refused, ending his cycling career at the age of 24. He later ran his own bicycle shop and worked as a trainer to the Eritrean national team.