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• Somali American marathon runner Abdi Abdirahman has competed in the Summer Olympics in 2000, 2004 and 2008. He won the 10,000 meter event at the 2008 U.S. Olympic track and field time trials to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic athletics team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.USA Track & Field: Abdi Abdirahman Abdirahman finished the men's 10,000 meter marathon event at the 2008 Summer Games in 15th place.AZCentral.com: Abdirahman Unable to Match Record 10,000 Pace (August 17, 2008)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: January 1, 1977USA Track & Field: Abdi Abdirahman
  2. Birthplace: SomaliaUSA Track & Field: Abdi Abdirahman
  3. Resides: Tucson, ArizonaUSA Track & Field: Abdi Abdirahman
  4. Height: 5'11"USA Track & Field: Abdi Abdirahman
  5. Weight: 130 lbsUSA Track & Field: Abdi Abdirahman
  6. College: University of ArizonaUSA Track & Field: Abdi Abdirahman

• Believe in Yourself

  Abdirahman was close friends with fellow marathon runner Ryan Shay and lived with Shay and his wife, Alicia, in 2006. Shay collapsed and died in November of 2007 during a marathon in New York City. Abdirahman wears a black wristband with the words "Ryan Shay Believe in Yourself." He stated that those were the last words he said to Shay and that he has been wearing the band in Shay's memory since his funeral.The New York Times: Abdirahman Runs in Memory of His Best Friend (August 16, 2008)

• Athletics Career

  After moving to the United States in 1990, Abdirahman began running in 1996.NBC Olympics: Abdi Abdirahman He placed highly in several competitions, including third at the 1999 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, but was disqualified as at the time he was not a U.S. citizen. Abdirahman officially became an American citizen on January 28, 2000. He competed in his first Olympics just a few months later, placing 10th in the 10,000 meter event at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Abdirahman continued to place highly in the 10,000 meter events at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, taking first in 2001 and second in 2002. He finished the event 15th at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. Abdirahman saw further success at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2005 and 2007, placing first in each contest.USA Track & Field: Abdi Abdirahman

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Track and Field | Ryan Shay | Summer Olympics 2008 | Olympic Athletics | US Olympic Athletics 2008

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