Monday, August 08, 2016
Somalia's athlete Mohamed Daud Mohamed (C) trains in Mogadishu...
– A Kenyan-born athlete will represent Somalia in 5000 metres at Rio Olympics in Brazil
– Mohamed Daud Mohamed, 20, was born in Wajir county will now carry the Somali national flag while challenging Kenya for the gold
– Mohamed cited frustrations in Kenya and lack of opportunities that for his decision to represent Somalia at the Olympics
Every athlete’s dream is to represent his motherland at the prestigious Olympics for Mohamed Daud Mohamed that dream was curtailed by frustrations and lack of opportunities and instead decided to represent another nation that he shared a culture, language and ancestry so as to realise his dreams of participating in the Olympics.
Mohamed was born in Wajir county 20 years ago but will represent Somalia in the 5000 metres at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil.
Mohamed had always wanted to run for Kenya even trying his luck to join the Kenya police in 2014 but was rejected.
The athlete also participated in competitions in Mombasa but did get the opportunity to be selected for the Kenyan team.
Mohamed also travelled twic to Eldoret but was rejected at the training facility.
“He has been to Eldoret twice but he has been unwanted in the training camp to the extent whenever he tried to race he was deliberately hit on the knee. He quit and a friend told him to audition for Athletic Somalia,” a relative is quoted
Mohamed travelled to Mogadishu and was noticed by a trainer in the war-torn nation who trained youngster until he won five competitions in Somalia which gave him the opportunity to represent Somalia at the Rio Olympics.
Mohamed will now challenge Kenyans Caleb Ndiku and Isiah Koech for gold in the 5000 metres the former Kenyan runner has a personal best 0f 14 minutes in the race.
Somalia is represented at the Olympics by two athletes including Mohamed and Maryan Nuh Muse who will compete in the women’s 400 metres.
Somalia in 2012 tragically lost its inspirational sprinter Samia Yusuf Omar who drowned in the Mediterranean sea after the boat she was travelling in capsized.
Omar had represented Somalia in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and was planning to travel to Europe to train for the Olympics in London and Rio de Janeiro before her tragic death.