| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 19, 1991 Mogadishu, Somalia |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Somalia |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | 400m |
Zamzam Mohamed Farah (born 19 March 1991) is a Somali female athlete from Mogadishu who competes in the Women's 400m. She was one of only two Somali athletes at the 2012 Summer Olympics. [1]
Farah was inspired by Mo Farah, a British Somali athlete to take up running. [2] She competed in the London 2012 Olympics at the age of 18 years where she participated in the 400m. She also was the flag bearer at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The facilities she trained in lacked proper equipment. In order to prepare for the Olympics, she and her teammates trained outside where they at times dodged bullets. Their running route was called "the road of death." [3]
Zamzam ran the 400m heats in a time of 1:20.48 seconds, about 30 seconds behind the winner of her heats. She finished the race as the slowest athlete in the first round, she ended up 45th out of a standing of 49 only ahead of people who did not start, did not finish and ahead of people who were disqualified. [4] She was fasting while she competed in London.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics she received several death threats through Facebook and other communication outlets for exposing herself. [5] Although the threats were worrisome she did not apply for asylum as some news outlets were reporting. [5] Farah still trains and hopes to compete in the next summer Olympics.
Farah's initiative in competing at the London Olympics was not about winning but delivering a message to the world that regardless of what is happening in Somalia it is still alive. Also, her presence at the Olympics is empowering to other women especially Somali women.
"The most important thing is being able to carry the Somali flag with 203 other countries in the Olympics. That in itself is success."
"Somalia is not dead. It's alive."
"I am not going there to win, but for pride...I will be representing my flag, my soil and its people."
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The Maldives competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States, from 19 July to 4 August 1996. The delegation's participation in the Atlanta Olympics marked the Maldives' third appearance at the Summer Olympics since their debut at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Six athletes competed across two sports; Mohamed Amir, Naseer Ismail, Hussain Riyaz, Ahmed Shageef and Yaznee Nasheeda in track and field, and Moosa Nazim in swimming. None of the track or swimming athletes advanced past the first round in their events, and no Maldivian has won a medal in any events. Ahmed Shageef bore the Maldives' flag during the parade of nations of the opening ceremony.
Somalia first participated at the Olympic Games at the 1972 Summer Games in Munich, West Germany; the Somali Olympic Committee being recognised by the International Olympic Committee shortly prior. The nation has sent athletes to compete in most Summer Olympic Games since then, boycotting in 1976 due to the inclusion of New Zealand, and in 1980 when it joined with the American-led boycott. It also did not compete in 1992 due to the ongoing effects of a famine. Somalia entered their largest contingent of athletes at the 1984 Summer Olympics, a total of seven.
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| Authority control: People |
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