- Samia Yusuf Omar
Samia Yusuf Omar (or Samiyo Omar, born March 25, 1991) is a Somali
sprinter .Infobox Person
name = Samia Yusuf Omar
birth_date = Birth date and age|1991|03|25
other_names = Samiyo Omar
known_for = Participating in the 2008 Summer Olympics
occupation = Sprinter
nationality = SomaliThe
BBC describes her as coming "from a destitute family with no breadwinner". She is from a "minority ethnic group" and lives in "a shanty house". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7492967.stm "Against the Odds: Samiya Yuusf Omar"] , BBC, July 21, 2008]She competed in the 100 metre sprint at the
African Athletics Championships inMay 2008 , finishing last in her first round heat. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7492967.stm "Against the Odds: Samiya Yuusf Omar"] , BBC, July 21, 2008]Yusuf represented Somalia at the
2008 Summer Olympics inBeijing where her 200 metre sprint time was 32.16 seconds. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news;_ylt=AvFURSRj6rPGZg2hyah1FQLGKZt4?slug=cr-somalirunners082408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns&print=1 "Somalia’s runners provide inspiration"] , Yahoo Sports, August 25, 2008] Describing her training conditions in her country, she told the BBC:Traditionally Somalis view the girls as corrupted if they join in with things like sports and music. It's because they sometimes wear transparent clothes or shorts. Therefore I have been coming under pressure from all different sides. Early in the morning... sometimes I come to a roadblock set up by either government troops along with Ethiopians or armed militia, who prevent me from going to the training. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7492967.stm "Against the Odds: Samiya Yuusf Omar"] , BBC, July 21, 2008]
References
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External links
AP article on Omar's background: [http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=cr-somalirunners082408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns "Somalia's Runners Provide Inspiration"]
Reuter's article on Omar: [http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSPEK21495420080808?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 "From weeds to world-class track for Somalia runner"]
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