South Sudan at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Last updated

South Sudan at the
2016 Summer Olympics
Flag of South Sudan.svg
IOC code SSD
NOC South Sudan National Olympic Committee
in Rio de Janeiro
Competitors3 in 1 sport
Flag bearer Guor Marial
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan (1960–)
Olympic flag.svg  Independent Olympic Athletes (2012)

South Sudan competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. South Sudan had been an independent nation since 2011, but its civil war had delayed its membership with the International Olympic Committee until 2015, making 2016 its first official appearance at the Olympic Games. The country was offered three universality placements in athletics, as no South Sudanese athletes met the Olympic qualifying standards prior to the Games. Three athletes, two men and one woman, competed in three track and field events, but did not win any medals. The sole woman, Margret Rumat Hassan, was given a spot eight days prior to the start of the Games that had been allotted previously to Mangar Makur Chuot. This change was against the advice of the South Sudan Athletics Federation and was due allegedly to pressure from Samsung, for whom Hassan had appeared in an advertisement. The flagbearer for both the opening and closing ceremony was Guor Marial, a marathon runner who, then unable to represent South Sudan, had competed as an Independent Olympic Athlete in 2012. Five South Sudanese nationals also competed as members of the Refugee Olympic Team.

Contents

Background

Guor Marial competing in the men's marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Guor Marial (Independent Olympic Athlete) - London 2012 Mens Marathon.jpg
Guor Marial competing in the men's marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011, but the South Sudanese Civil War made it difficult for the nation to garner the support of five sport federations as required for its National Olympic Committee to gain recognition by the International Olympic Committee. [1] Guor Marial, a South Sudanese refugee living in the United States, competed in the men's marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics, but did so as an Independent Olympic Athlete after refusing to compete for Sudan. [2] South Sudan became the 206th IOC member in August 2015, with the affiliations of track and field, basketball, association football, handball, judo, table tennis, and taekwondo. [1] The nation chose Marial at its flagbearer for both the opening and closing ceremonies. [3]

In addition to South Sudan's official team, five delegates of the ten-member Refugee Olympic Team, James Chiengjiek, Yiech Biel, Paulo Amotun, Rose Lokonyen, and Anjelina Lohalith, were of South Sudanese origin. All were residents of the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, who had settled there following violent conflicts in their homeland. [4] Lokonyen served as the team's flagbearer in the opening ceremony. [5]

Athletics (track and field)

Margret Hassan competing in the women's 200 m at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Margret Hassan Rio2016.jpg
Margret Hassan competing in the women's 200 m at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

No South Sudanese athletes met the Olympic qualifying standards, but the nation was allotted three universality places to compete in track and field events. The South Sudan Athletics Federation nominated Marial, Santino Kenyi, and Mangar Makur Chuot to fill these spots. Eight days prior to the start of the Games, however, the South Sudan National Olympic Committee informed Chuot, who had already been accredited, by email that he had been removed from the team. [6] Chuot was a refugee who had fled the Second Sudanese Civil War after the death of his father and been resettled in Australia in 2008. In 2014 he became the Australian 200 metre champion, but elected to compete for South Sudan rather than Australia at the Games. After his selection for the South Sudanese delegation was confirmed in December 2015, he returned to the country of his birth and became the 2016 South Sudanese 100 and 200 m champion, setting a national record in the latter discipline. The NOC chose Margret Hassan, a competitor in the 200 m event, to take his spot, despite another athlete, national record holder Viola Lado, having posted a better time in the lead up to the Olympics. When the Athletics Federation protested, the NOC claimed that Samsung, who had featured Hassan in one of their advertisements, had pressured the organization to give her one of the spots, an accusation that Samsung denied. When his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was rejected, Chuot proclaimed his decision to leave the sport. [6]

Results

Santino Kenyi (back right) competing in the men's 1500 m at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Thiago Andre and Santino Kenyi Rio2016.jpg
Santino Kenyi (back right) competing in the men's 1500 m at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Hassan was originally interested in association football before deciding to take up track and field athletics. [7] Despite a lack of training opportunities and facilities, she was given the opportunity to participate in the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics but, since South Sudan was not yet a member of the International Olympic Committee, she competed as an Individual Olympic Athlete. [8] She took part in the 400 m, but did not win a medal. She also attended the 2016 African Championships in Athletics, where she was eliminated in the heats of the 200 m event. [7] For the 2016 Summer Games, she was again entered in the women's 200 m, where she was placed in heat four. This heat contained eventual gold medal-winner Elaine Thompson of Jamaica, although it was won by the Ivory Coast's Marie-Josée Ta Lou. Hassan finished eighth and last, although she set a new personal best of 26.99. [9]

Kenyi took up middle-distance running in 2012 [10] and was a specialist in the 800 and 1500 metre distances. He delayed his final year of high school in order to train for the Olympics. [11] He was selected to represent South Sudan in the men's 1500 m and was placed in heat one, which included Matthew Centrowitz Jr. of the United States, the eventual gold medalist. Kenyi's heat was won by 2008 Olympic Champion Asbel Kiprop of Kenya, while Kenyi himself finished 12th among 14 runners and did not advance. [12]

Marial, who competed in the men's marathon, was the only Olympic veteran among the three. He had fled the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1999 and settled in the United States in 2001, [2] where he took up athletics in high school. He ran for Iowa State University during his college career and was selected as a member of the All-American team. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he had finished 47th in a field of 105 competitors. [13] He was slated to make South Sudan's debut at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics, but failed to appear for the event. [14] In Rio, he finished 82nd in a field of 155 competitors with a season-best time of 2:22.45. [15]

Key
  • Note – Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • PB = Personal best
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
Track & road events
AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRank
Santino Kenyi Men's 1500 m 3:45.2712did not advance
Guor Marial Men's marathon —2:22:4582
Margret Hassan Women's 200 m 26.99 PB8did not advance

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldives at the Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

The Maldives first participated at the Olympic Games in 1988. It has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since, but has not participated in the Winter Olympic Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Olympic Athletes at the 2012 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Four independent Olympic Athletes competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the United Kingdom. These were athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles, and from the newly formed state of South Sudan. This was the third time that athletes had competed as independent participants in the Olympics. None of the athletes won an Olympic medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guor Marial</span> Sudan-born long distance runner

Guor Mading Maker, also known as Guor Marial, is a South Sudanese Olympic track and field athlete. He is a Dinka tribesman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Olympians at the Olympic Games</span> Sporting event delegation

Athletes have competed as independent Olympians at the Olympic Games for various reasons, including political transition, international sanctions, suspensions of National Olympic Committees, and compassion. Independent athletes have come from North Macedonia, East Timor, South Sudan and Curaçao following geopolitical changes in the years before the Olympics, from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a result of international sanctions, from India and Kuwait due to the suspensions of their National Olympic Committees, and from Russia for mass violations of anti-doping rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopia at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Ethiopia competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, from 5 to 21 August 2016. The country's participation in Rio de Janeiro marked its thirteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1956, having missed three occasions for joining the African (1976), Soviet (1984), and North Korean (1988) boycotts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burundi at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Burundi competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's sixth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Djibouti at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Djibouti competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. The nation's participation marked its eighth appearance at the Summer Olympics. Djibouti did not field any athletes at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanzania at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Tanzania competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. Seven athletes, five men and two women, competed in five events across three sports, but did not win any medals. Hilal Hemed Hilal, however, set a new national record in the men's 50 m freestyle event. Four athletes took part in track and field athletics, all in marathons, while two participated in the swimming tournament's 50 m freestyle category. The flagbearer for the opening ceremony was Andrew Thomas Mlugu, who was Tanzania's first Olympic judoka. His counterpart in the closing ceremony was Alphonce Felix Simbu, who had earned the nation's best finish at the Games by placing fifth in the men's marathon. Prior to these Games, Tanzania had sent athletes to twelve editions of the Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Sudan at the Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

South Sudan competed in the Olympic Games for the first time at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The South Sudan National Olympic Committee (NOC) was admitted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the 128th IOC Session on 2 August 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Olympic Athletes at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Independent Olympic athletes competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. The team was composed of Kuwaiti athletes who competed under the Olympic flag, as the Kuwait Olympic Committee had been suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the second time in five years due to governmental interference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libya at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Libya competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's eleventh appearance at the Olympics since its debut at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo; seven of them were represented by the Libyan athletes under the name Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mali at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Mali competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. Since the nation made its debut in 1964, Malian athletes had appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, with the exception of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal because of the African boycott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudan at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Sudan competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's eleventh appearance at the Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

The Refugee Olympic Team competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016, as independent Olympic participants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Chiengjiek</span> South Sudanese sprinter

James Nyang Chiengjiek is a runner originally from South Sudan, but now living and training in Kenya. He was selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to compete for the Refugee Olympic Team (ROT) at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He placed last in his 400 m heat. He was also qualified to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics ROT, and placed last in his 800 m heat after tripping due to a fellow competitor's involuntary touch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjelina Lohalith</span> South Sudanese-born track and field athlete

Anjelina Nadai Lohalith is a track and field athlete originally from South Sudan, but now living and training in Kenya. She competed as part of the Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose Lokonyen</span> South Sudanese-born track and field athlete

Rose Nathike Lokonyen is a track and field athlete from South Sudan, but who later lived and trained in Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margret Hassan</span> South Sudanese sprinter

Margret Rumat Rumar Hassan, known as Margret Hassan, is a South Sudanese sprinter. She competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, in the 200 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santino Kenyi</span> South Sudanese middle-distance runner

Santino Kenyi is a South Sudanese middle-distance runner. He competed in the 1500 metres event at the 2016 Summer Olympics, but was eliminated in the preliminary round.

References

  1. 1 2 "South Sudan to compete in Rio after becoming 206th Olympic nation". The Guardian . 2 August 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 Chodos, Ben (27 July 2012). "Guor Marial: South Sudanese Runner Is Not a Man Without a Country". Bleacher Report . Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  3. ↑ Boyd, Flinder (17 March 2017). "The marathon life of the Rio Olympics' most inspirational flag bearer". Fox Sports . Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  4. ↑ Boh, Elvis (30 July 2016). "South Sudan Olympic refugees arrive Rio". Africanews.com. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  5. ↑ Clayton, Jonathan (5 August 2016). "Refugee Olympic Team makes history at Rio Games". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees . Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 "South Sudanese refugee Mangar Makur Chuot won't run in Rio after appeal rejected". The Guardian . 5 August 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  7. 1 2 "HASSAN Margret". NBC Sports. 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  8. ↑ "South Sudan's historic Olympic team provides a glimmer of hope amid the threat of civil war". Quartz Africa. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Women's 200m – Standings". Rio2016.com. Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 18 August 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Izuora, Uche (18 November 2014). "Another peek into the future: The Story of Santino". Adventures in Missions. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Cosier, Colin (23 April 2016). "'They come from South Sudan, the newest country in the world.'". The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "Men's 1500m – Standings". Rio2016.com. Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 21 August 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  13. ↑ Gjerde, Arild; Jeroen Heijmans; Bill Mallon; Hilary Evans (June 2016). "Guor Marial Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics. Sports Reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  14. ↑ "The Latest: Stickers, stars and stripes for Johnny Dutch". Yahoo! News. 22 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  15. ↑ "Men's Marathon – Standings". Rio2016.com. Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 21 August 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.