SomaliWadaniSoldier
Weeping for the Nation of 68
Somali athlete Zamzam Farah runs near the London Stadium in London, Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Farah who sought asylum in London after competing in the 2012 Olympics will be back running in the British capital in Sunday’s marathon. Zamzam Farah started a new life in London after receiving online death threats from Islamist extremist group al-Shabab during the Olympics in August 2012 (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
LONDON — Glancing at the Olympic Stadium for the first time in five years, Zamzam Farah’s troubles momentarily wash away and she fondly reminisces about competing in the London Games.
“It was overwhelming,” the Somali runner says. “It wasn’t like anything I had experienced before. The whole world was coming together.”
The London Olympics felt like a sanctuary from the suffering in Mogadishu, from the violent threats that failed to deter her from running those 400 meters in the 80,000-seat stadium as half of the two-person 2012 Somalia team.
Then came a knock on her bedroom door in the athletes’ village late one evening. A 21-year-old Farah was woken by a team official with disturbing information: Islamist extremists had posted death threats on Facebook.
“I didn’t take it seriously,” Farah said. “I thought it was a joke.”
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Until a call from Somalia.
“I don’t want to lose you, but you have to be safe,” Farah recalled being told by her mother. “It doesn’t matter how long we are separated from each other.”
It’s been almost five years now.
Farah had little choice but to pursue a new life in Britain. One that ultimately led her back to the Olympic Park this week, accompanied by The Associated Press, to look ahead to her fresh sporting challenge.
Farah is ready to run again. This time pounding the streets of the city that granted her asylum in Sunday’s London Marathon.
Permanent resident status was granted by the British government six months after the Olympics, on Feb. 28, 2013.
“The day I got the letter was so overwhelming,” Farah said. “I was jumping around. I couldn’t believe it.”
Starting a new life in London didn’t feel like a choice for Farah but a necessity. It wasn’t about collecting benefits from the state, but staying alive.
guys forgive me, i couldnt hold my laugh at how slow she ran at the olympics.
LONDON — Glancing at the Olympic Stadium for the first time in five years, Zamzam Farah’s troubles momentarily wash away and she fondly reminisces about competing in the London Games.
“It was overwhelming,” the Somali runner says. “It wasn’t like anything I had experienced before. The whole world was coming together.”
The London Olympics felt like a sanctuary from the suffering in Mogadishu, from the violent threats that failed to deter her from running those 400 meters in the 80,000-seat stadium as half of the two-person 2012 Somalia team.
Then came a knock on her bedroom door in the athletes’ village late one evening. A 21-year-old Farah was woken by a team official with disturbing information: Islamist extremists had posted death threats on Facebook.
“I didn’t take it seriously,” Farah said. “I thought it was a joke.”
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Until a call from Somalia.
“I don’t want to lose you, but you have to be safe,” Farah recalled being told by her mother. “It doesn’t matter how long we are separated from each other.”
It’s been almost five years now.
Farah had little choice but to pursue a new life in Britain. One that ultimately led her back to the Olympic Park this week, accompanied by The Associated Press, to look ahead to her fresh sporting challenge.
Farah is ready to run again. This time pounding the streets of the city that granted her asylum in Sunday’s London Marathon.
Permanent resident status was granted by the British government six months after the Olympics, on Feb. 28, 2013.
“The day I got the letter was so overwhelming,” Farah said. “I was jumping around. I couldn’t believe it.”
Starting a new life in London didn’t feel like a choice for Farah but a necessity. It wasn’t about collecting benefits from the state, but staying alive.
guys forgive me, i couldnt hold my laugh at how slow she ran at the olympics.
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