Ghent, Belgium: Born in Somalia, raised in Belgium, and training regularly in Ethiopia, marathon runner Bashir Abdi is hoping for another medal in Paris after winning bronze at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. “For me, as a Belgian athlete, it’s an Olympics that feels almost like being at home,” Abdi, 35, told AFP. And the tragic absence of Kenyan world record holder Kelvin Kiptum will be felt at the Paris race after he died in a car crash in February aged 24. He was joking, saying ‘I’ll try the world record tomorrow’,” Abdi recalled. “As soon as we started the race, he just started flying.”Bashir Abdi took up marathon after trying his hand at football after landing in Belgium.

Source: Ethiopian News August 09, 2024 13:48 UTC