Rome 1960 Summer Olympics

Rome, Italy. Cassius Clay won gold as Bikila ran the marathon barefoot

Overview

The ancient city staged events in historic settings, with gymnastics in the Baths of Caracalla and the marathon finishing under torchlight at the Arch of Constantine. Ethiopian Abebe Bikila won that marathon running barefoot, becoming the first sub-Saharan African Olympic champion. Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, took light heavyweight boxing gold. The first Paralympic Games followed in Rome that September.