Olympic sprinter finishes slower than most high school girls, but is still an inspiration. ala ceebta

[FarhanYare]

The full link: Hiiraanonline

[Lamagoodle]

Why is this "ceeb"? You did not expect that woman and the other athletes representing Somalia to win gold did you? There are no good training facilities, there are no mechanisms to select the best runners and Somalia is still a dangerous place.. Still, Somalia managed to send athletes ; an achievement.

The history of athletics and all other sports; takes years before success is achieved by an individual; Abebe Bikila, Kipchoge Kiano paved the way for Ethiopians and Kenyans in the 1960s. Mo Farah is doing that for somalis in the 2000s.

Participation, my friend, is the keyword.

Give us a few more years, and Somalis will dominate athletics; most of these will be representing their adopted countries but there will be some representing Somalia.

P.s.The first Somali gold is home; there will probably 2 other medals.

[FarhanYare]

I agree with what you said there, but that sense of embarrassment doesn't go away. Why subject these kids to pure humilition by allowing them to compete when they are disadvantaged from the get go compared to the other competitors?

[JSL3000]

The title is madd funny.

[Lamagoodle]

I agree with what you said there, but that sense of embarrassment doesn't go away. Why subject these kids to pure humilition by allowing them to compete when they are disadvantaged from the get go compared to the other competitors?

There is no embarrassment in coming last. In sports there are always losers and winners. There is always someone/nation that comes last. Mo Farah, Bolt, Lewis and the other greats have come last in their last races.

But you have a point; Somalis are world champions in af-waa-ko maay liki aame; we are armchair athletes (and many other things) and granted this runner will be called a national embarrassment by people who cannot even beat a 2 year old.

[waryaa]

lama, the problem is that Somalia sends unqualified athletes. There's nothing wrong with finishing last but you must calculate your runners' ability and what's expected from such a runner. I ddnt see this time, but the last time in Olympics was so bad even late night us tv shows were making fun of that poor girl and Somalia that nite.

very embarrassing: mrgreen:

I wonder why they dnt try long distance where East Afrjcans dominate!

[Machiavelli2]

Allow walaalkeena Lama ha i naga qaadin. The spirit of the olympics is participation where in the Olympic village, all kinds of athletes representing their countries can meet and establish friendships. Somalia is recuperating from an acute illness of anarchy and still managed to send athletes to Rio to represent the Somali people. With a minuscule availability of modern sports science, experienced coaches and training facilities, they were very proud to represent their people. That itself should be a major achievement. Guys, let's be proud of our heroes and cease this mentality of feeling embarrassment. Well done team Somalia.

[Lamagoodle]

lama, the problem is that Somalia sends unqualified athletes. There's nothing wrong with finishing last but you must calculate your runners' ability and what's expected from such a runner. I ddnt see this time, but the last time in Olympics was so bad even late night us tv shows were making fun of that poor girl and Somalia that nite.

very embarrassing: mrgreen:

I wonder why they dnt try long distance where East Afrjcans dominate!

True. corruption is rife in Somalia and selection is very difficult saaxib; I was once at conference where developing nations were expected to send people with advanced/professional degrees. Somalia sent some geeljires with fake papers and it was very embarrassing to listen to their presentations. You'd find somalis arguing about football and how they are better than players in the champions league. This is the state of our nation; we do not have a system of merit.

I was talking to an Eu official the other day who told me that it is difficult to recruit soldiers in Somalia when every recruit claims to be very educated/fit and demands to become a captain/colonel... but the reality is that all the recruits looked malnourished (lugo baasto, chicken breasts) and have a lower knowledge level than a primary school.

But I am not giving up hope; All over the western world, there are somali teenagers who are involved in athletics and in due cause, we shall dominate. In additio, we have in Mo Farah, our own Bikila, Kiano. He will inspire somalis.

Within our lifetime, Somalis will be dominating middle and long distance.

Have you watched Eric the Eel in Sydney? He became a celebrity and rich (sponsors) after this debacle:

[waryaa]

lama, 100% agreed! Mo is is legend. i saw him today. nbc commentator said Mo was born in Somalia, is a British citizen, lives in the US and trains all over the world. it reminded me of rolling stone/somali synonym

[waryaa]

abt eric, no.

[Lamagoodle]

abt eric, no.

Bro. Watch this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ7uWpn4DTs

[waryaa]

sure bro. tnx

[AwRastaale]

You guys talk as if you run an NGO. I know Lama does and I expected that from here.

Olympic is not a charity as some whites like to portray it. The same whites send yet their top elites.

If their so called Olympic is about participation why do they send their guns and spend billions on host city's infrastructure?

You guys are not realistic.

Somalia needs to stop make excuses because similar countries are doing wonders.

Do you believe this girl is the best Somalia has?

Overall it was boring Olympics for me. The track and field is where I hope to see better games.

The worst Olympics.

[cyanide]

[Lamagoodle]

You guys talk as if you run an NGO. I know Lama does and I expected that from here.

Olympic is not a charity as some whites like to portray it. The same whites send yet their top elites.

If their so called Olympic is about participation why do they send their guns and spend billions on host city's infrastructure?

You guys are not realistic.

Somalia needs to stop make excuses because similar countries are doing wonders.

Do you believe this girl is the best Somalia has?

I think your knowledge of the Olympics is limited; it is basically an amateur event. Read its history and learn about the number of people who were disqualified and confined to the annals of shame (the Finish guy who perhaps was the greatest of them all). It is the SPIRIT which is at the core of the games ; nowadays, there is big money involved and that is a shame.

Somalia is not the only country that send(t) athletes who do not win; in fact, the majority of countries do not get a medal.

You cannot compare Somalia (the present day Somalia) with other countries; we have gone through - and still go through- a horrible time. Limited sporting facilities, weak and corrupted selection process mean that good/performing athletes are not selected.

The history of the Olympics and other sports teaches us that it takes awhile before countries succeed. In addition individual achievements (extraordinary) lays the groundwork for future athletes; Bekele, Kiano inspired dozens of Kenyans and Ethiopians (The first gold medal for Kenya and Ethiopia came in the 1960s); In fact, Africa (independent) was not the main feature of global sports before the 1960s/70s.

We have now our Bekele/Kiano; Mo Farah. If you visit training facilities across the developed world, somali youngsters are training; somali kids everywhere in Africa and all over the world are inspired by Mo.

Where does the NGO nonsense come into this discussion?

P.s. I am sure you would be dancing in the street if the somali lady won; defeat is difficult to swallow but one should put things into perspective, my friend.

P.s.s.; celebrate her participation. She tried. Did not win. There is no embarrassment in participation. She is not the last person to come last. Many others did; many other nations come last in sports.