First Olympiads from Africa in Melbourne Australia 1956:
The Ethiopians and the Eritreans in Australia, one of them was the great cyclist and coach
Ato Mesfin Tesfay
... It is this: Dawit has an illustrious father. Indeed, his dad, Mesfen Tesfay could be called the father of Eritrea’s favourite sport: cycling.
Mesfen competed in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne – representing Ethiopia, of which Eritrea was then a part. It was the first occasion on which Ethiopia participated in the Olympics and Mesfen competed in both the individual and team events. They were the first black African team ever to participate in the Olympic Games.
Melbourne
Mesfen came in in 36th place in the individual event – no mean feat for a first attempt. The hot Melbourne summer took its toll on the field, with only half the starters making it to the end. The team was composed of four individuals – one Ethiopian and three Eritreans (including Mesfen’s best friend, Zehaye Bahta.)
Mesfen participated in the team road race with Guremu Demboba and Zehaye Bahta — winning 99 points and taking the 9th place.
Ethiopia Olympics
Dawit remembers his father running a cycle shop near Kagnew station (the US base in Asmara.) His parents sadly separated, with Dawit’s mother living in Italy with her son. But Dawit does recall meeting his father in 1968, training the Ethiopian cycling team that participated in the Mexico Olympics of that year.
Later they met on the streets of Addis Ababa in 1975, as Mesfen was urging on Eritrean cyclists, who were competing to qualify for the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Mesfen had brought the Eritrean team to Addis.
Mesfen was an inspiration to young Eritreans, who so loved their sport. Among them – “Gigante” Tekeste Weldu and Salambini Carmelo – who remembered him well. ....
Full article: https://martinplaut.com/2017/08/10/erit ... ns-secret/
=======