Exiled Ethiopian Olympic runner who protested against government returns home

FILE PHOTO: 2016 Rio Olympics - Athletics - Final - Men's Marathon - Sambodromo - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 21/08/2016. Feyisa Lilesa (ETH) of Ethiopia celebrates. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha Picture Supplied by Action Images/File Photo

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - A medal winning Ethiopian Olympic runner, living in exile in the United States since making a protest gesture against government violence at the 2016 games, returned home on Sunday following a series of reforms in the East African nation.

Feyisa Lilesa held his arms over his head, wrists crossed, as he finished second in the marathon in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, a gesture used by protesters in Ethiopia's Oromiya region during a period of unrest in 2015-2017.