- Lopez Lomong
Infobox Person
name = Lopez Lomong
caption = Lopez Lomong runs in the first round of the men's 1500 meter run at the US Olympic Team Trials-Track & Field, held at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.
birth_date = birth date and age|1985|1|1
birth_place = Kimotong,Southern Sudan
death_date =
death_place =
other_names = Lopepe Lomong
known_for =
occupation = Track and field athlete
nationality =Sudanese
ethnicity =
citizenship = USA (s. 2007)Lopez Lomong (born Lopepe Lomongcite news |first= Tom |last= Farrey |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= I came all the way here, so I have to run |url= http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfield/columns/story?id=3468567&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2 |work= |publisher= ESPN The Magazine |date= 2008-07-02 |accessdate=2008-08-07 ] on
January 1 ,1985 inKimotong ,Sudan ) is aSudanese -born American track and field athlete. One of theLost Boys of Sudan , Lomong came to the United States at age 16 and became a U.S. citizen in 2007.Lomong qualified for
2008 Summer Olympics in the 1500 meters at the United States Olympic track and field trials inEugene, Oregon . [cite news |first=Philip |last=Hersh |title=A winner in long run |url= http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-080706-olympic-track-field-lomong,0,7302465.story |publisher= Chicago Tribune |date= 2008-07-06 |accessdate=2008-08-10 ] He was the flag bearer for the United States during the2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony .Lomong is a member of
Team Darfur , a group of athletes urgingChina to exert pressure on the Sudanese government to address theWar in Darfur .Biography
Lopez Lomong was born "Lopepe Lomong" in a small village in
Southern Sudan to Awei Lomong and Rita Namanacite web|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/sports/olympics/02runner.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&ref=sports&oref=login|date=2008-07-02|title=Odyssey May End at Olympics for Lomong|accessdate=2008-08-08|publisher=New York Times|first=Jeré|last=Longman] .Lomong was a victim of theSecond Sudanese Civil War . A Catholic, he was abducted at age six while attending Catholic Mass and assumed dead by his family and buried in absentia. He nearly died in captivity, but was helped to escape by others from his village. The four of them ran for three days until they crossed the border inKenya . Lomong spent ten years in arefugee camp nearNairobi before being moved to theUnited States throughCatholic Charities . His name "Lopez" was a nickname from the refugee camp that he later adopted officially. Although he originally assumed his parents had been killed by theSudan People's Liberation Army , he was reunited with his mother and family in 2003, who now live outside Nairobi. He first returned to his native village in December, 2006.He was inspired to become a runner following watching Michael Johnson at the
2000 Summer Olympics on television.Lomong is one of the
Lost Boys of Sudan . He was resettled in the United States throughCatholic Charities with Robert and Barbara Rogers, inNew York State . The Rogers have since gone on to sponsor many other Sudanese refugees. Lomong attendedTully High School in Tully, NY, entering at a 10th grade level. In high school, he helped lead the cross country and track teams to sectional and state titles, and later competed forNorthern Arizona University . In 2007, Lomong was the division INCAA indoor champion at 3000 meters and the outdoor champion at 1500 meters.He became a naturalized citizen of the United States on
July 6 ,2007 .2008 Summer Olympics
Lomong qualified for the US Olympic Team on
July 6 ,2008 , one year after gaining his US citizenship.cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olydwyre9-2008aug09,1,3223914.column?page=2 |title=U.S. Olympian Lopez Lomong's great escape |work=Los Angeles Times |author=Bill Dwyre |date=2008-08-08 |accessdate=2008-08-08] "Now I'm not just one of the 'Lost Boys,'" he told reporters. "I'm an American." [ cite news|last=Pells|first=Eddie|url=http://teamusa.org/news/article/3048|publisher=TeamUSA|date=2008-08-06|title=Lomong chosen as US flagbearer at Beijing Games] [ cite news|last=Litke|first=Jim|url=http://teamusa.org/news/article/3206|publisher=Team USA|date=2008-08-07|title=From African refugee camp to Olympic start line]After his success at the collegiate level, Lopez signed a contract with Nike and now competes professionally. He specializes in the 1500m run but is a serious contender in every mid-distance race from 800m up to and including the 5k. Lopez finished 5th in the 800m finals during the 2008 US Olympic Trials, which he ran as part of his training for the 1500m.
Lomong was chosen by the team captains of the US Olympic team to carry the US flag in the Opening Ceremony at the
2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony , an honor for which he campaigned. The U.S. Olympic team captains said that Lomong deserved the honor of flagbearer because he was so proud of his citizenship.cite news|last=Bodeen|first=Christopher|url=http://teamusa.org/news/article/3342|publisher=Team USA|date=2008-08-08|title=US flagbearer Lomong dodges political questions]Lopez is a member of
Team Darfur . In the weeks leading up to the Olympics Lomong spoke often about the need to raise awareness for the violence in Darfur. Since his selection as flagbearer he has been careful not to criticize China directly, choosing instead to focus on the inspirational side of his story. "I'm here to compete for my country," Lomong told reporters when they asked questions about human rights. "The Olympics are supposed to bring people together to peacefully blend and I'm looking forward to that and stepping on the track and wearing my colors and representing my country." With reference to China specifically, Lomong answered "Chinese people have been great putting all these things together. It's great being here."He was eliminated in the semifinals of the 1500 at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
References
External links
*
* [http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Lomong_Lopez.asp USA Track & Field: Lopez Lomong]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfield/columns/story?id=3468567&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2 ESPN Interview with Lopez Lomong]
* [http://www.teamdarfur.org Team Darfur]
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