And,he was proud of being the first African-American to break the color barrier in a major opera house.

VOA: special.2010.03.07

A month earlier,twenty-six year old Zamperini had been one of the greatest runners in the world, expected by many to be the first to break the four-minute mile, one of the most celebrated barriers in sport.

VOA: special.2011.05.04

He was the first witness in a probe examining the government's decision to send naval commandos to intercept six ships trying to break Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip.

VOA: standard.2010.08.09