People, Jul. 9, 1979

He won a gold medal running the 400-meter hurdles in a record 47.82 sec. at the Munich Olympics in '72. But that didn't matter in the hallucinogenic country that Uganda became under Idi Amin. For three years John Akii-bua, 29, was forbidden to leave the country again to participate in international meets. When the ban was finally lifted last summer in a typically perverse Amin decision, Wife Joyce and Akii-bua's three children were forced to remain in Kampala as hostages against his return. When Amin finally fell, the family escaped to West Germany. In friendlier political climes, Akii-bua is preparing for...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!