Somali Athletes Set A Shameful Record For Being The Latest Runner In The World Number 100 Meters, Shocking Facts Revealed

Illustration of running athletics. (Photo: Pexels/@Maksim Goncharenok)

JAKARTA A Somali runner named Nasra Abu Bakar Ali set the record for being the slowest runner in the 100 meters after finishing with a record time of twice the winner at the World University Games in China.

Nasra finished the 100-meter competition with a time of 21.81 seconds. He is recorded to be far behind 11.58 seconds from the winner of the Gabriela Silva Mourao race from Brazil.

The record at that time then raised broad questions because he was considered minimal in experience, but could compete in international levels. After being investigated, it turned out that Nasra was not a trained professional runner.

Responding to this, Somali Sports Minister Mohamed Barre Mohamud publicly apologized to the public. He also ordered the head of the national athletic federation to be suspended for sending an untrained runner to represent the African country.

"What happened today is not a representation of the Somali people. We apologize to the Somali people," Mohamed said as reported by The Guardian.

Mohamed admitted that his ministry did not know how the 20-year-old woman was selected to compete in the women's 100 meters at a student match in Chengdu, China, on Tuesday.

He also issued a statement and ordered the Somali Olympic Committee to suspend the chairman of the national athletic federation Khadija Aden Dahir. The order came after it was discovered that Nasra Abukar was his relative and was given the opportunity to compete in the event.

"It's sad to see an incompetent government. How could they choose an untrained girl to represent Somalia in a running race?" wrote one social media user, Elham Garamad quoted by the BBC.

"This really came as a surprise and reflected the severity of our country in the international world," he added.

The Somali University Association in a press release posted to the Facebook page said it did not appoint an athlete to compete in the event.

The Somali Athletics Federation has reportedly agreed to investigate how Abubakar Ali was elected.

This incident is not the first time Somalia has sparked controversy with the choice of athletes in international athletics.

In 2016, Maryan Nuh Muse recorded a slow time, namely 1.10.14 at 400 meters at the Rio Olympics. The average time for the event is about 48 seconds.

However, many praised the runner for trying to participate in the race and for opposing the difficult conditions faced by Somali women who want to take part in high-level sports.

At the 2012 Olympics in London, Zamzam Mohamed Farah recorded a time of one minute 20.48 seconds or about 30 seconds behind the winner.

The athlete has reportedly received death threats during matches from several people in Somalia who believe women should not participate in sports.