Editing John Akii-Bua

{{short description|Ugandan hurdler}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = John Akii-Bua
| nickname = 
| image = Akii-Bua 1972.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = John Akii-Bua c. 1972
| birth_date = 3 December 1949 
| birth_place = [[Lira, Uganda|Lira]], Uganda 
| death_date = 20 June 1997 (aged 47)
| death_place = [[Kampala]], Uganda 
| height = 1.88 m
| weight = 77&nbsp;kg
| sport = Athletics
| event = 400 m, 400 m hurdles
| club =  
| pb = 400 m – 45.82 (1976)<br>400 mH – 47.82 (1972)
| alma_mater =
| show-medals  = yes
| medaltemplates = 
{{Medal|Country | {{UGA}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich]]|[[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres hurdles|400 m hurdles]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[All-Africa Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[Athletics at the 1973 All-Africa Games|1973 Lagos]] | 400 m hurdles}}
{{Medal|Silver| [[Athletics at the 1978 All-Africa Games|1978 Algiers]] | 400 m hurdles}}
}}
'''John Akii-Bua''' (3 December 1949 &ndash; 20 June 1997) was a [[Uganda]]n [[hurdles|hurdler]] and the first [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] champion from his country Uganda.<ref>{{cite web |title=Uganda to remember Olympic hurdler John Akii Bua |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/news/uganda-to-remember-olympic-hurdler-john-akii |website=World Athletics |access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref> In 1986, he was a recipient of the Silver [[Olympic Order]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77062 |title=John Akii-Bua |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=3 December 2021}}</ref>

==Biography==
Akii-Bua was raised in a family of 43 children from one father and his eight wives.<ref>{{cite news | title=Personalities at Olympics: Akii-Bua the Best in Vest | date=4 September 1972 | work=The New York Times | pages=10 Section: Sports | quote=He is one of a family of 43 children. His father had eight wives.}}</ref><ref name=sr/> Akii-Bua started his athletic career as a short-distance hurdler, but failed to qualify for the 1968 Olympics.<ref name=sr/> Coached by British-born athletics coach [[Malcolm Arnold (athletics coach)|Malcolm Arnold]], he was introduced to the 400 meter hurdles.<ref name="Inzikuru">[http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=45202.html IAAF, 5 June 2008]: Inzikuru to return to action in Akii Bua CAA Grand Prix</ref> After finishing fourth in the 1970 [[Commonwealth Games]] and running the fastest time of 1971, he was not a big favourite for the [[1972 Summer Olympics]] in [[Munich]], having limited competitive experience. Nevertheless, he won the final there, setting a world record time of 47.82 seconds despite running on the inside lane. He missed the [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Olympics]] and a showdown with United States rival [[Edwin Moses]] because of the boycott by Uganda and other African nations.<ref name=sr/>

As a police officer, Akii-Bua was promoted by Ugandan president [[Idi Amin]] and given a house as a reward for his athletic prowess. When the Amin regime was collapsing, he fled to [[Kenya]] with his family, fearful that he would be seen as a collaborator; this was more likely because he was a member of the [[Langi people|Langi]] tribe, many of whom were persecuted by Amin,<ref>{{cite news|title=John Akii-Bua, 47 Is Dead; Ugandan Won Olympic Gold|date=25 June 1997|work=The New York Times|page=D20|quote=Amin was purging the Lango tribe, and Akii-Bua was Lango}}</ref> whereas Akii-Bua was cited by Amin as an example of a Langi who was doing well. However, in Kenya he was put into a refugee camp. From there, he was freed by his shoe-manufacturer [[Puma SE|Puma]] and lived in [[Germany]] working for Puma for 3–4 years. He represented Uganda once again at the [[1980 Summer Olympics]].<ref name=sr/> Later he returned to Uganda and became a coach.<ref name="BBC">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00d1fjt The John Akii-Bua Story: an African Tragedy], documentary by Dan Gordon, BBC2, 10 August 2008</ref>

Akii-Bua died a widower, at the age of 47, survived by eleven children. He was given a state funeral.<ref name="Inzikuru"/> His nephew is international footballer [[David Obua]], and his brother [[Lawrence Ogwang]] competed in the long jump and triple jump at the 1956 Olympics.<ref name=sr>[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ak/john-akii-bua-1.html John Akii-Bua] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722173151/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ak/john-akii-bua-1.html |date=22 July 2015 }}. sports-reference.com</ref>

The phrase "''akii-buas''" has come to colloquially mean "runs" in Uganda.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster |author=Tim Crothers |author-link=Tim Crothers |isbn=9781451657814 |date=9 October 2012 |publisher=Scribner}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1405 Profile]

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-bef|before={{flagicon|USA}} [[Ralph Mann]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=[[400 metre hurdles#Season's bests|Men's 400 m Hurdles Best Year Performance]]|years=1972–1973}} 
{{s-aft|after={{flagicon|USA}} [[Jim Bolding]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 400 m hurdles Men}}
{{Footer All-Africa Champions 400 m Hurdles Men}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akii-Bua, John}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:Ugandan male hurdlers]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Uganda]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Uganda]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Uganda]]
[[Category:World record setters in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Ugandan police officers]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:African Games gold medalists for Uganda]]
[[Category:African Games medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:African Games silver medalists for Uganda]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1973 All-Africa Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1978 All-Africa Games]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Olympic Order]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Northern Region, Uganda]]