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Desta Asgedom (29 February 1972 – 1 September 1992) was an Ethiopian athlete who specialised in middle distance races. A world junior 800 metres champion and an All-Africa Games silver medalist, he died in the United States not long after these achievements.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Desta Asgedom |
| Nationality | Ethiopian |
| Born | 29 February 1972 Maychew Ethiopia |
| Died | 1 September 1992 (aged 20) Pico Rivera, California, U.S. |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Weight | 61.2 kg (135 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Ethiopia |
| Sport | Middle-distance running |
| Event | 800 metres / 1500 metres |
Medal record | |
Asgedom first came to prominence in 1990 with his performances at the World Junior Championships in Bulgaria, where he won a gold medal in the 800 metres and claimed a bronze medal in the 1500 metres race.[1] In the same year he was a bronze medalist in the 800 metres at the African Championships in Cairo.[2]
In 1991 he competed in the World Championships, which were held in Tokyo.[3] Soon after he represented Ethiopia at the 1991 All-Africa Games and finished with the silver medal in the 1500 metres.[4]
He came to the United States early in 1992 to attend California's Riverside Community College.[5] In August he got an offer of a scholarship to Wayland Baptist in Texas and spent a week on campus before deciding to decline, due to the lack of a large Ethiopian community, like there was at Riverside.[5]
Death
Asgedom was killed when on 1 September 1992 he was struck by a pickup truck driver while out running on Washington Boulevard in Pico Rivera, California.[5] He died from his injuries at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital, 25 minutes after being hit.[5] His death was ruled a suicide by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.[5] The verdict from the Sheriff's Department was based on the results of an autopsy and witnesses accounts.[5] The truck driver said that Asgedom had been standing facing traffic waiting to cross and made eye contact before he dove in front of the incoming vehicle.[5] Two other witnesses corroborated the claim that Asgedom had jumped in front of the truck.[5]
His coach, Ted Banks, described Asgedom as a "tremendous runner" who with some more experience "had the potential to be an Olympic medal winner".[5]
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