Ethiopia’s Olympic marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa who grabbed the world’s attention by making an anti-government gesture after crossing the finish line has arrived in the United States.
Lilesa finished second in the men’s marathon, clocking a time of 2:09:54 behind Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge.
Upon crossing the finish line, the Ethiopian made an anti-government gesture common with Oromo protestors back in his country, who accuse the government of brutally cracking down on demonstrators.
He would later repeat the gesture at a press conference.
Lilesa then claimed that his life would be in danger if he were to return home.
“If not kill me, they will put me in prison. I have not decided yet, but maybe I will move to another country.”
The Ethiopian government however said Lilesa would be treated like a hero if he were to return.
Following this incident, a funding campaign was launched to obtain funds to help Lilesa pay legal fees as well as support his family back in Ethiopia.
The campaign managed to obtain $150,000.
Mr Feyisa is from Oromia, home to most of Ethiopia’s 35 million Oromo people, the country’s largest ethnic group.
The region has been hit by a wave of anti-government protests since November 2015, as people object social and political marginalization.
