The John Akii-Bua Story - An African Tragedy
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.พ. 2025
- At the Munich Olympics of 1972, John Akii Bua, from the impoverished African country of Uganda, powered round the inside lane in the 400m hurdles, past the English favourite, and reigning Olympic Champion David Hemery, to win the gold medal, 10m clear of the field. John Akii Bua had become the first African to win gold in an event under 800 metres. He was also the first man to break the 48 seconds barrier in the 400 metre hurdles, an event so gruelling its nickname is 'The Mankiller'. This is the story about that amazing triumph - and what happened next. David Hemery retired to respectable fame and fortune, later becoming president of the UK's athletics federation. John Akii Bua returned to a Uganda carving the name of its military "President", Idi Amin, into genocidal notoriety. This is a film about the pinnacle of athletic achievement - and the search to discover what followed. 'The John Akii Bua story: An African Tragedy' is the story of one man, and of Africa itself; its glory, potential - and tragedy.
Growing up in Kampala (early 2000s). John Akii-Bua was still a household name. Teachers even told us about him at school as he was the only Ugandan to ever win an Olympic gold medal till 2012 (40 years later). A real legend whose legacy should never be forgotten.
this man embodies what uganda is about - determination to achieve against all odds. proud to be a ugandan
Any Ugandan watching with me 2019 . Proudly Ugandan. After this great service akii-bua u deserve a humble rest with the mighty creator.
Randomly stumbled on this and stayed beginning to end, what an incredible athlete & story.
What an amazing beautiful Story Blessings from United States of America
unsung hero of the African people. I wish they would stop warring because so much talent is yet needed to be harvested from these exceptional people of Africa.
I was a kid back in 1972, following the BBC's daily summary of the summer Olympics on radio in my native country Guyana. I marveled at the accomplishment of John Ak Bua, literally got goose bumps listening to the commentary. Akii Bua forever one of my athletic heroes.
Nice 👍
Thank you for posting this video. So many people don't know about Akii-Bua. Sad that he wasn't able to defend his title and then to know he died so young after after the Amin regime. RIP JOHN AKII BUA.
I'm glad I was able to learn a out John Akii Bua: May God Rest his Soul.
A book needs to be made on this inspiring man. What an inspiration.
Absolutely and a lifetime movie.
👍❤️Thanks to the Dasler family, for rescuing, our National hero and his family, from a refugee camp.
Omigosh when he first beat the world record I admit I was whispering "Go...go...go" and now I can't stop crying I'm just so proud of him.
Just 12 min into this , what a strong man surrounded by strong people. This will help to make his accomplishments set in stone. We all shall remember this great man.
RIP John Aki Bua, after watching this documentary i have massive respect for this athlete, ugandas greatest prodigy.
Great shared, like it, thank you gor this wonderful video, stay connected buddy
A truly inspiring story. RIP John.
Finally I have waited soo long to see this- my late uncle jon akii- bua... heard so much about it...
I know him - he was a great man
Brilliant athlete
I was a very good young athlete myself, Hemery was my idol. John Aki Bua was a different class, and he did it the hard way. A genuine inspiration.
Am so glad with all your comments. Akii-bua is from lango where I hails from. I am a proud african, a proud ugandan &as well a proud lango. God bless uganda
Where is Lango in Uganda? Is it a highland or hilly place?
Why do u have to mention the Lango thing we are all proud of him may his soul rest in peace. A hero
@@THEanthiri its a plateau
@@THEanthiri I thought you are a Ugandan
Thanks for your response. In Kenya, Lango refers to a community that resides in the highlands. But together with the Maasai & Luo, they are all Nilotes. Maasai being the ones that reside in the plateau/plains
Oh my goodness I used to see the name here and their never new his Story. Thanks for putting this together. Our country failed this wonderful man. As a track fanatic was here thinking I have to build a fully equipped sports center. Kept wondering wat a suitable name would be. Guess I have found one💖
Great tears rolling down just opening the page I'll watch it completely As a human we r all born from supreme light Let all pray for humanity great champions families
What an incredible story! I am happy he wrote his story making it even more unforgettable.
Stuff of Legends,Awesome story,RIP Champ!!
We were amazed by you John, to think, breaking the 48.00 second barrier from lane ONE!
May your soul rest in internal peace John Akii-Bua
Unbelieveable, Unbelieveable documentary. Absolutely inspiring.
What a great athlete! Unsung hero, succeeding in the midst of so much turmoil. His love for motherland, to make it better, ❤💖♥ I salute you John Akii Bua
David Hemery was a very silky smooth hurdler....But what an amazing race and world record win by Akii-Bua
To forge a lasting athletic legacy against a backdrop of corruption, brutality, to include political and social upheaval is a tragic tale. This story is larger than an African tragedy, but a human one as well. John Akii-Bua should be as large a sports icon in his country as Edwin Moses became for the U.S.
Thanks for sharing-great video-amazing how Akii Bua ran a 400 hurdles time which is still world class more than 40 years later! RIP
This is truly a wonderful tribute to a great Olympian. Very few people, in fact perhaps nobody (until Kiprotich) has managed to unite ALL Ugandans in celebration irrespective of their ethnicity or creed like Akii - Bua did on that September day of 1972. Credit to him again for finding it within himself to share his story. Very few Africans - even those privileged to have a better education bother to tell us their story. We should all follow his example.
Brilliant athlete with a good coach. RIP John Akii-Bua
A great coach, Malcolm Arnold is possibly the most successful hurdles coach in athletics history. J A-B was his first athlete to break a world record.
I remember John, to this day. I was a child when he performing, he proved that even people from poor countries could compete with the giants of athletics.
Thanks for the upload. John Akii Bua did his best in a difficult situation in Uganda.
Pretty sure he must be smiling from heaven when Uganda performed so well in Tokyo this year.
I am grateful to you for uploading this video. So much thoughts and things to say…
Thanks for this. I'll cover him on my Sport's Channel.
Above all else, John Akii-Bua believed Uganda could shine on the world stage. He suffered greatly for this belief. The dream is not dead.
thanks a lot for sharing this very inspiring story.
God bless you and rest in Peace Champion . Every time I see an athlete doing a lap of honor after a win I can see your image (soul ) at his side.
A hero and indeed a hero...RIP John Aki Bua.
Well done documentary. Akii Bua's gold medal was inspirational and his attempted comeback for the 80' olympics after all he went through after the 72 games.
A man mountain. He will live on to inspire future generations forever.
Thanks so much for uploading this, watching it thru allows up to pay a belated tribute to this great champion.
Watching this after the Tokyo Olympics, so nice to know about this extraordinary man. I'm from the South Pacific, much appreciated.
Thank you for this special glimpse in history. So inspirational
Thank you, so moving, so inspiring but also so sad.
What an amazing, yet tragic story. I am thankful that John enjoyed at least one moment of Olympic glory, and as world record holder.
Akii Bua rest in peace, a happy jolly man all way smiling.
Thanks for this inspirational video. Everyone needs a wee lift atm and this worked a treat.
Beautiful documentary
2 great men. Coach and runner.
LOL at doing a victory lap over the hurdles again! considering the lack of track facilities in the late '60s and early '70's in Uganda it tells you that good coaching and an incredible work ethic can still make a champion!
Such a cool victory lap!
@@250txc i would be on the ground wheezing in exhastion and this guy just casually jogging and jumping the hurdles lmao
what a great documentary, very informative
I remember seeing John Akii-Bua at the Munich Olympics,I was about 10 years old.
What a sad end to someone so talented.Perhaps if it had not been for the actions of Idi Amin we may have seen much more of Akii-Bua.
Great athlete who believed he could do, truly a very inspiring personality to look up for ever
Thank you for uploading this video. Sad to say, before I saw this video. I had never heard of him. R. I. P.
A very powerful story about a great athlete, but he was so much more then that. Wonderful husband, father and friend. RIP John, I will never forget you. ❤
If it wasn't for this man I dont think there would be a Usain Bolt or world class Jamaican track team. He and his team showed that its possible to compete with the rest of the world even if you're from a poor country or dont have a track to run on. He proved that all you need is shoes and a stop watch. Racing has got to be the oldest sport in the world. I would think man was racing each other even before wrestling or boxing.
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Great documentary
a truly moving and inspiring story.
An inspirational, but at the same time sad story. Too bad Akii-Bua couldn't compete in Montreal. He would have easily won another medal.
What an incredible will and determination of one man! To bring honor and respect for his land of birth.
Against one midiocre of a man and his army of cowards.
What an amazing story of an amazing life
Edwin Moses would never have beaten Akii- Bua if the African had not been defeated by war and exile. Trust me. Akii-Bua was a special, naturally gifted, athlete
A real hero.Real inspiration.Real sad reason I wish I could return to Uganda but still don't.Rest in peace Akii-Bua.
The M7 government to date has not fulfilled its pledge of building Akii Bua Stadium in the honor of our hero John Charles Akii Bua
this young man was a beast
Such a good story. Thanks for telling it.
First man in the world to run under 48seconds..Idi Amin can hate on that
Ugandan government has no respect for Great people like him Up to now his memorial stadium is not yet constructed, so ashaming R.I.P CHAMPION
You are a hero to Uganda Akii Bua. A legend 👏
Inspiring
that part where he was dumped in kenyan camps and deported to uganda, really broke him down. if it wasnt for german, he would end up on street.a full hero?? i wsh president museveni remembered something in honour of akii bua.
RIP my fellow countryman.
Many Unknown heroes out there, nice documentary.
John was a great man, even without those medals
Good documentary, have been looking for it in long time...
True Johnson, a book needs to be written.
Wonderful john charles akiibua
I was in Germany watching the Olympics in 1972, and I witnessed the horrifying event that took place, the news that innocent Israeli athletes had been murdered. It was the most devastating thing I had ever seen prior to that!!
ONE OF MY IDOLS
Such a sad film, we could have gotten so much right... but we failed. Rest in Peace, John Akii-Bua.
Uganda needs to respect our heros like Akiibua the great(RIP),John Mugabi(The Beast) retired champion boxer in Australia
Chiwetel Ejiofor is narrating in the voice of John Akii Bua
Ugandas gratest akibua of uganda
what a sad story....
"Malcom Arnold coached many olympic champions and world record holders, but, it's for his first protege - who trained harder and ran faster than the world thought possible - that he reserves his greatest admiration."
I wonder what he’d envisioned for when he’d finally able to return home. It’s sad to hear that whatever it was didn’t happen.
ONE OF MY IDOLS IS JOHN AKII BUA
Imagine how many more potential Akii Buas are going undiscovered in that little village
A great man n champion of Uganda
Amazing video.
It should be a movie 🍿 🎥
Its not a tragedy, its a celebration of hope and desire.
I can now belief that ones background, however humble it could be has nothing to do with talent!
I wonder when the first Blasian Eruo Bi-sis will win... Hopefully Running Maniac will cover that too.
Respect !
The guy says "the intrusion of politics into sports" as if politics isn't already in every aspect of life. Like we supposed to pretend real life don't exist and also at that time like there weren't protestors that got mowed down by the military outside the walls of the Olympics....?
Is it bad to tell the truth? It's not politics but they are telling us the truth
Btw, now I see the resemblance between David Obua and Akii Bua
They are cousins, the same blood
his a hero so inspiring
Rest in paradise brother.