But to anyone familiar with the political situation in Ethiopia, his arms aloft pose meant something much more brave and important: a defiant stance that could spell danger for him but has drawn international attention to an important issue.
Lilesa made a cross over his head with his forearms as he clocked in at 2 hours, 9 minutes and 54 seconds in front of the world's media, and repeated it again during a press conference after the event. The images were beamed across the globe, and to anyone watching in his home country the message was clear. Read more...