One man, one country | He let the world know that Somalia has not only pirates, but also long-distance running talents
2024-08-10
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Editor’s Note
“Everyone should have the possibility to practice sport without any form of discrimination and in accordance with the Olympic spirit of mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
At the Paris Olympics, there was a group of people who represented a country. When they stepped into the stadium, they were heroes. Their stories are the best interpretation of the Olympic spirit.
Somali athlete Ali Iddo Hassan
For a long time, Somalia has always been associated with piracy. But in the eyes of Ali Idow Hassan, he hopes that more people will think of Somalia because of sports.
As the only Somali athlete in this Olympics, this is Ali's second Olympic journey. He finally ran 1 minute 48.72 seconds in the first round of the men's 800m track and field held on August 7 Beijing time, ranking 8th in the group. According to the competition system of this year's Paris Olympics, Ali also participated in the men's 800m revival race held on August 8, but unfortunately he failed to finish the race and bid farewell to the Paris Olympics.
Hidden long-distance running talent
Ali, 25, was born in Baidoa, southwestern Somalia. According to Khadija Dahir, president of the Somali Track and Field Association, he represented Somalia in a long-distance race for the first time seven years ago.
In fact, the Somali Peninsula, located in the easternmost part of the African continent, has a world-renowned talent for long-distance running. Uganda and Ethiopia, which are adjacent to Somalia, have long demonstrated strong competitiveness in the field of track and field. However, Somalia's turbulent domestic situation and more than 20 years of anarchy have once caused their athletes to disappear from the world sports map.
In preparation for the Paris Olympics, athletes from the Horn of Africa are training in Ethiopia. The picture shows Ali taking a photo with his idol Bashir Abdi, who was born in Somalia and is now a Belgian athlete. He won the bronze medal in the men's marathon at the Tokyo Olympics.
Somalia first participated in the Olympics in 1972, and sent the "largest delegation in history" of seven athletes in 1984. However, in every Olympic Games after the millennium, although Somalia has always had athletes participating, the number of athletes in each Olympic Games has never exceeded two.
In fact, Somalia does not lack talent, but the turbulent domestic environment has caused many athletes to leave their homeland and represent other countries. For example, long-distance runner Mo Farah has won four Olympic gold medals on behalf of Britain.
The Tokyo Olympics was Ali's Olympic debut. He was not alone at that time. Boxer Ramla Ali also participated in the Olympics with him.
Although Ramla Ali suffered a crushing defeat in her Olympic debut, losing to Romanian boxer Claudia Nekita, the process has made history - Ramla Ali became the first female boxer in history to represent Somalia in the Olympics.
Compared to Ramla Ali, Ali's first Olympic journey was the men's 1500m track and field race. In order to prepare for the Olympics, he and professional athletes such as Mo Farah and Ayane Suleiman underwent two years of intensive training in the Ethiopian plateau. In the end, Ali won the tenth place with a score of 3 minutes 43.96 seconds and set a new personal best.
After the game, his coach was interviewed by the American media and said: "He has been trying to improve. He is competing with the best athletes in the world and is not inferior at all."
Ali was the flag bearer for the Somali sports delegation at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics
Run to the world and visit China
Since then, Ali has gradually emerged in the field of middle and long-distance running.
In 2023, Ali won a bronze medal in the 1500m at the Arab Championships in Morocco. In 2024, he first won the 1500m at the Djibouti Championships, and then won fifth place in the 800m and 1500m at the African Championships in Cameroon, and then won fourth place at the Dubai Championships.
Ali wins bronze in the 1500m race at the Arab Championships in Morocco
It is worth mentioning that Ali also visited China because of long-distance running. At the Chengdu Universiade last year, Ali participated in the men's 1500m race as a college athlete and finished ninth with a score of 3 minutes 43.47 seconds.
Although Somalia has never won an Olympic medal in any sport, for Ali, sports is not only his way to get to the world, but also a way for the world to get to know this troubled country again.
As Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo said: "The entire Somali people stand with you. No matter what you achieve, it deserves praise and encouragement."
As Ali gradually becomes the representative of the new generation of Somali athletes, Mohamed Abdu Haji, secretary general of the Somali Olympic Committee, said that the country hopes to increase the number of athletes participating in continental and international competitions in the next few years, and also hopes that more athletes can participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Ali in the Tokyo Olympic Village
The Paper reporter Hu Jie and intern Tian Yunxiang
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