Abdi and Nageeye continue inspiring performances at Rotterdam Marathon.
Rotterdam (HOL) - Belgium's Olympic bronze medallist Bashir Abdi triumphed in the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday, April 16th, for the second time in his career, winning in a world-leading time of 2:03:47. Despite falling narrowly short of his European record of 2:03:36, which he set in this race in October 2021, Abdi put in a massive effort in the second half to bring the record back into view.
Born in El Afweyn, Somaliland, Abdi moved to Belgium as a teenager, following a harrowing journey through Djibouti and Ethiopia. In Belgium, he started training at the Racing Club Gent Athletics and went on to co-found the non-profit organization Sportaround, which organizes after-school sports activities for children in Ghent.
During the race, strong winds and inconsistent pacing from the pacemakers presented challenges. However, Abdi surged through 30-35 kilometres in a sizzling 14:11, resulting in a significant negative second-half split of 61:32. This effort not only rewarded him with his second career sub-2:04 performance but also the second-fastest time in history from a European standpoint.
Abdi won by three seconds from Kenya's Timothy Kiplagat, who finished in 2:03:50. Eunice Chumba emerged as the winner of the women's category with a time of 2:20:31. The Rotterdam Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, took place under cloudy skies, providing ideal marathon weather conditions.
It was a successful outing for the European contingent, with three European athletes finishing in the top six. Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands, who won the race last year, finished third on home soil in 2:05:32, despite a challenging build-up to the race. Abdi's compatriot Koen Naert, the 2018 European champion, finished sixth in a lifetime best of 2:06:56.
Abdi and Nageeye share a unique bond, both being born in Somalia and having fled the country at a young age. Their inspiring performances and heartwarming sportsmanship during the Tokyo Olympics, where Nageeye took silver and Abdi secured bronze, resonated with refugee communities worldwide.
With his sights set on the Paris Olympics, Abdi now plans to focus more on shorter distances to work on his speed. He believes there is still more potential for improvement and aims to defend his title in future races.
The Rotterdam Marathon has once again proven to be a significant event for European athletes, showcasing their prowess in long-distance running. The strong performances from Abdi, Nageeye, and Naert will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they continue to compete on the world stage.
2023 NN Marathon Rotterdam
TOP 10 MEN’S RESULTS:
Abdi Bashir (Belgium) – 2:03:48
Timothy Kiplagat (Kenya) – 2:03:50
Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) – 2:05:32
Dawit Wolde (Ethiopia) – 2:05:46
Chala Regasa (Ethiopia) – 2:06:11
Koen Naert (Belgium) – 2:06:56
Asmare Bazezew (Ethiopia) – 2:07:58
Abebe Negewo (Ethiopia) – 2:08:12
Kenneth Kipkemoi (Kenya) – 2:08:15
Cyrus Muati (Kenya) – 2:08:18
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Rotterdam (HOL) - Belgium's Olympic bronze medallist Bashir Abdi triumphed in the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday, April 16th, for the second time in his career, winning in a world-leading time of 2:03:47. Despite falling narrowly short of his European record of 2:03:36, which he set in this race in October 2021, Abdi put in a massive effort in the second half to bring the record back into view.
Born in El Afweyn, Somaliland, Abdi moved to Belgium as a teenager, following a harrowing journey through Djibouti and Ethiopia. In Belgium, he started training at the Racing Club Gent Athletics and went on to co-found the non-profit organization Sportaround, which organizes after-school sports activities for children in Ghent.
During the race, strong winds and inconsistent pacing from the pacemakers presented challenges. However, Abdi surged through 30-35 kilometres in a sizzling 14:11, resulting in a significant negative second-half split of 61:32. This effort not only rewarded him with his second career sub-2:04 performance but also the second-fastest time in history from a European standpoint.
Abdi won by three seconds from Kenya's Timothy Kiplagat, who finished in 2:03:50. Eunice Chumba emerged as the winner of the women's category with a time of 2:20:31. The Rotterdam Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, took place under cloudy skies, providing ideal marathon weather conditions.
It was a successful outing for the European contingent, with three European athletes finishing in the top six. Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands, who won the race last year, finished third on home soil in 2:05:32, despite a challenging build-up to the race. Abdi's compatriot Koen Naert, the 2018 European champion, finished sixth in a lifetime best of 2:06:56.
Abdi and Nageeye share a unique bond, both being born in Somalia and having fled the country at a young age. Their inspiring performances and heartwarming sportsmanship during the Tokyo Olympics, where Nageeye took silver and Abdi secured bronze, resonated with refugee communities worldwide.
With his sights set on the Paris Olympics, Abdi now plans to focus more on shorter distances to work on his speed. He believes there is still more potential for improvement and aims to defend his title in future races.
The Rotterdam Marathon has once again proven to be a significant event for European athletes, showcasing their prowess in long-distance running. The strong performances from Abdi, Nageeye, and Naert will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they continue to compete on the world stage.
2023 NN Marathon Rotterdam
TOP 10 MEN’S RESULTS:
Abdi Bashir (Belgium) – 2:03:48
Timothy Kiplagat (Kenya) – 2:03:50
Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) – 2:05:32
Dawit Wolde (Ethiopia) – 2:05:46
Chala Regasa (Ethiopia) – 2:06:11
Koen Naert (Belgium) – 2:06:56
Asmare Bazezew (Ethiopia) – 2:07:58
Abebe Negewo (Ethiopia) – 2:08:12
Kenneth Kipkemoi (Kenya) – 2:08:15
Cyrus Muati (Kenya) – 2:08:18
Bashir Abdi regains Rotterdam Marathon title with world-leading time
Rotterdam (HOL) - Belgium's Olympic bronze medallist Bashir Abdi triumphed in the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday, April 16th, for the second time in his career, winning in a world-leading time of 2:03:47.
