Derartu Tulu and Elana Meyer relive their historic Barcelona’92 act 30 years later

On August 7, 1992 the Ethiopian athlete Derartu Tulu20 years old, the gold hung 10,000 meters in Barcelona Olympic Gameswhile the South African Elana Mayer, of 25, achieved silver, and shortly after confirming their medals, both athletes performed a gesture that they revived this Tuesday in the Catalan capital.

The iconic image of that race lived on Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys, in Montjuïcwhere the Ethiopian, the first black African to win Olympic gold, awaited Meyer at the finish line.

It was then that both melted into a kiss and held hands, Tulu, carrying the Ethiopian flag, and Meyer, from South African Olympic Committee, they gave the lap of honor to the stadium. That image would go around the world and for decades it was the symbol of the fight against racism.

30 years ago, the same athletes made their debut in some Games. In the case of Tulu, he does not exist seoul’88 due to political conflicts in his country, while in Meyer’s case he could not become an Olympian until 1992 due to the veto of international sports in South Africa due to apartheid.

This Tuesday the two athletes commemorated that race on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Barcelona Olympic Games. The act took place in Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys after explaining his experiences at a round table in Olympic Museum Juan Antonio Samaranchthat starting this Tuesday there will be a new relic: the flag of the South African Olympic Committee with which Meyer circled the stadium.

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In 2022, Derartu Tulu will be 50 years old and the president of Ethiopian Athletics Federationwhile Elana Meyer, 55, is the director of South Africa’s long-distance running and endurance sports academy.

Meyer was born in the town of Albertina in South Cape. The daughter of a family of farmers grew up during apartheid. At the age of 13, he won his first half marathon and every four years he waits to see if his country can participate in the Olympic Games.

On February 11, 1990, Mandela was released from prison. The news gave Meyer hope. After achieving the world record of 3,000 meters (8:32.00) in 1991 he thought he would compete in the World Championships in Tokyo, but in early 1992 South African athletes received the green light to compete in the Olympics. after a 32 year ban.

“The fact that South Africa is in Barcelona is partly thanks to the impulse and the request made by Nelson Mandela to members of the Olympic committee of countries to make this possible. Without that boost, maybe in Barcelona’92 we still wouldn’t have been able to compete”, pointed out the South African athlete at the round table.

Regarding the iconic image by which the race is remembered, Meyer pointed out that “running the track with Derartu Tulu was something that happened spontaneously” and pointed out that it was a celebration “of everyone, black and white, for having the opportunity to compete at the highest level.”

In the same line, Tulu referred, describing as “exciting and unforgettable moments” the one he lived with the South African athlete at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

“I had never met Elana before, but she acted as if we had known each other forever and were old friends. That was a big surprise for me. We greeted each other and gave each other a quick hug. We didn’t we forget that we are both from the same place Africa“, he pointed out.

Tulu grew up in the town of Bekōjiin the region of Arsi In the middle of Ethiopiain the mountains that have since become synonymous with the legends of that distant country.

In addition, he is considered one of the pioneers of the current dominance of African runners, especially Ethiopians, in these trials, where names such as Gete Wami, Tirunesh Dibaba or Meseret Defar.

At the round table to remember the race that made them famous, both Tulu and Meyer agreed that athletics gave meaning to their lives and that an act like theirs showed sports’ ability to unite people.