OlympicTalk · Sep 9, 2016
Ethiopian Olympic marathon silver medalist protester reportedly arrives in U.S.
Feyisa Lilesa, the Ethiopian Olympic marathon silver medalist who crossed the finish line in Rio with his wrists crossed above his head in anti-government protest, has arrived in the U.S., according to the BBC.
Lilesa’s agent did not immediately respond to a message seeking confirmation.
On Aug. 21, Lilesa finished second in the Olympic marathon, made the protest gesture at least a few times and then said, “If I go back to Ethiopia, maybe they will kill me, or put me in prison,” according to Agence France-Presse. “It is very dangerous in my country. Maybe I have to go to another country. I was protesting for people everywhere who have no freedom.”