Miruts Yifter, an Ethiopian runner and two-time Olympic gold medalist known for his sudden, explosive bursts of speed, died on Thursday in Toronto. He was 72.
The Ethiopian Athletics Federation announced his death on its website. He had been hospitalized for months with a collapsed lung, Ethiosports.com said.
Yifter was widely known as Yifter the Shifter for his acceleration, which propelled him to gold medals in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter races at the 1980 Summers in Moscow.
In an article describing his strategy, The New York Times reported: “Yifter won the 5,000 with his trademark, a burst of speed over the final 300 meters that makes it look as if he has suddenly jumped on a bicycle while the others in the race are still merely running.