Makata Taka Hela

written by: Milka Babović, illustrated by: Matija Dražović

The publishing of these picture books was enabled by the Croatian Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee.

ISBN 978–953–57570–9–2, picture book 2

ISBN 978–953–7981–02–0, picture book series

Publisher: POKRET – aktivan i zdrav

Graphic design: Boris Barna

www.malisportasi.net

Proofreading: Jana Sumrak

Editor: Vitomir Spasović

Translated by: Andrea Bagović

Written by: Milka Babović

Print: Printera

Illustrated by: Matija Dražović

Zagreb, 2014.

written by: Milka Babović, illustrated by: Matija Dražović

olympic stories

This story begins in South Dakota, the poorest state in the USA, but also a state rich in natural beauties. Green pastures climb up steep mountain slopes to dense forests brimming with animals, while brooks pour down from mountaintops into small rivers full of fish.

On bright days, birds circle around under the blue sky, while bushes resound with the song of blackbirds and the trill of pheasants. It is in this kind of nature that the Indian reservation Pine Ridge is located. And there, in a small settlement, a boy, Billy Mills, was born to a family of Lakota Indians.

When he was barely four years old, Billy was too little to understand where and why his mum, his dad, and all his brothers and sisters were going, why his grandmother was crying, and why his grandfather was more serious than usual.

His grandfather once showed him the drawings of the Lakota tribe chiefs that a white hunter, a friend of the Indians, had made a long time ago.

He used to tell him stories about the Lakota tribe and its

fearless warriors, about hunting buffaloes and fishing in clear rivers; about high mountains above which the eagle is the only ruler, about reading animal tracks, and many other things.

Little by little, the boy was becoming better with horses. One morning, when Billy was a first grader, his grandfather took him to the mares that had just foaled. He started running among the foals. One minute he would chase them, the next they would chase him. This is how he got his Indian name – Makata Taka Hela, “The One Who Runs With Horses.”

The last summer before Billy had to move to the town, in order to go to school, a

new foal appeared at the pasture. It had long legs, a beautiful head, glimmering, ginger hair and a black mane and tail. It also had a white, star-like marking on its forehead. It spontaneously approached the boy. Thrilled with joy, Billy stroked his new friend and said: “Hi, Star!� The next morning they were already racing around.

Later, he got an athletic

scholarship for studying at the Kansas University. He was lonely in this new environment. He was the only Indian at the University.

He often sadly contemplated returning to his village, riding Star and disappearing in the shadows of the pine forest, but then he would remember his grandmother’s words:

“Finish what you started!”

Suddenly, all spectators got up and started shouting; TV and radio reporters were literally yelling.

An unknown American was running lined up with the group of the best ones.

Nobody knew who he was. The favorites were shoving him and he almost fell down. He was tired and thinking about giving up.

But then he felt the spirits of his ancestors and heard a neigh that he knew well. Star was calling him, waiting for him at the finish line. His fatigue disappeared as if by magic. Billy sped up and overtook all the favorites. They fell behind him, confused, and the poor Indian boy won and took the Olympic gold medal at the 10,000 meters.

Billy Mills 30 June 1938

He was born on 30 June 1938, in

Olympic delegation of the USA

the Indian reservation of Pine

in athletics. In Tokyo, completely

Ridge in South Dakota (USA). He

unknown, he reached the finals

was the eighth, youngest child

and won in the 10.000 meters

in a family of Lakota Indians.

race against the most famous

Orphaned at a very early age,

runners of the world at the

he was taken care of by his grandparents. He fin-

time. Billy Mills is the first, and so far the only, US

ished primary school in the reservation and went

track and field athlete with a golden medal in the

to high school in Lawrence, Kansas. He was an

10.000 meters race. Later on, he has successfully

exemplary student. He excelled in athletics, espe-

continued his career in athletics. He has used his

cially in long-distance running. After his successful

popularity to promote sports among young peo-

graduation from high school in 1958, he received

ple. He has worked as a reporter, animator, lec-

an athletic scholarship for studying at the Univer-

turer at schools and universities, and a publicist.

sity of Kansas.

Using all his profit from a biographic film about An additional school allowed him to gain relevant

him, he has founded the organization Running

qualifications, and he became a US Marine Corps

Strong for American Indian Youth. He gives scholar-

officer in 1962. In this environment, his progress

ships to gifted young Indians from his reservation,

in sports was fast: the military sent him to the US

where he has built hospitals and waterworks, and

Olympic Trials for the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

fought against alcohol and drugs. He has a place

Having won the second place at the final 10.000

of honor in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and in the

meters race, Billy Mills became member of the

World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

Read the other picture books in the series Olympic Stories...