An Independent runner finished the Olympic Marathon race in London yesterday at 47th position even though he had only run 2 previous marathons.
With all the unfair politics and acts of desperation that The Olympics throws up, there are always great stories of those who triumph against adversity. Guor Marial, a cross-country runner, finished The Olympic Marathon at The London Games just over 11 minutes behind the best in the world. What makes it all the more glorious is the story running up to it.
Mr Guor Marial had no country he could run for, and instead ran under the banner of the International Olympic Committee(IOC). His actual country of birth, South Sudan, is a newly formed country and presently has no documents giving him nationality there. He currently permanently lives in the USA, but hasn't been there long enough to have documents allowing him US citizenship. Without a passport or a country, it seemed there was no hope for him, even though he completed his second marathon only 2 months before The Games, it was within the qualification zone which could see him competing.
After a long fight to get himself to The London Olympics 2012, he was finally allowed to represent the IOC. Mr Marial said "It was a heavy responsibility on my shoulders, but it was great, I feel blessed to be able to do this. Two marathons back-to-back
in two months, was not ideal. The whole thing is to do this to honour our
people. Support the refugees and the people of South Sudan."
His feelings about the experience could be left in little doubt when he said "The IOC is great. It's special. I can't thank them enough for giving me
this opportunity, at the same time, it's about the people.
In my heart here, I'm carrying those people in my heart."
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