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Marathon Legend Ikangaa Visits With Yamagata Middle Schoolers



Tanzanian marathon legend Juma Ikangaa, 58, visited and talked with students at Kita J.H.S. in Nagai, Yamagata on Oct. 19. In the 1980s and early 1990s Ikangaa was one of the top marathoners in the world, representing Tanzania at three Olympic Games. Ikangaa was part of a Tanzanian delegation visiting Nagai, which will host the Tanzanian national team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The welcome event and exchange with students took place in the school gymnasium, where the visiting delegation sampled local products. After watching students show off their skill at difficult kendama moves Ikangaa tried his hand with the traditional toy. Afterwards while eating lunch he talked to students via an interpreter about various aspects of Tanzanian culture.

"Listening to Mr. Ikangaa made me interested in Tanzania," said one male student. "I'd like to try to learn Swahili." Ikangaa commented, "I was delighted to speak with the students today. I hope that the friendship between Tanzania and Nagai continues on forever."

On Oct. 21 Ikangaa will participate in the opening ceremony of the Nagai Marathon alongside his old rival Toshihiko Seko. Together they will cheer on the runners from the roadside.

source article:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20181019/k10011677931000.html
translated by Brett Larner

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Anonymous said…
Juma Ikangaa can't be considered to be a LEGEND, he has never won an Olympic medal or set a world record at any race.
To be called a legend you have to fulfill that doubleheader.

Sorry for the cheerleaders Please find another name to give to him.
October 21, 2018 at 11:22 AM
CK said…

Thanks for including the video clip. I can actually remember seeing that iconic top 6 result in the athletics press in 1983. So finally to get to watch the race end feels like one of life's many fragmented circles has been closed.
For anybody too young to remember, Ikanga was a 1980s legend. He famously said "You have two choices - you can throw in the towel or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face."
The 1982 Commonwealth Games marathon (Brisbane) when he was a near unknown was the first time many of us witnessed it (watch from 11 mins (or better still from 8 mins))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRI6X7orA-M
A year later he duelled with Seko at Fukuoka, and from then he had nearly a decade at or near the top. Even as he slowed with age he was still in the big races, eg OG92 Barcelona, WC95 Gottenberg. Returned to run Fukuoka several times in the mid-1990s.
October 23, 2018 at 4:45 PM
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