Abdi Abdirahman

Somali American marathon runner Abdi Abdirahman has competed in the Summer Olympics in 2000, 2004 and 2008. He won the 10,000 meter event at the 2008 U.S. Olympic track and field time trials to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic athletics team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.¹ Abdirahman finished the men's 10,000 meter marathon event at the 2008 Summer Games in 15th place.²

Believe in Yourself

Abdirahman was close friends with fellow marathon runner Ryan Shay and lived with Shay and his wife, Alicia, in 2006. Shay collapsed and died in November of 2007 during a marathon in New York City. Abdirahman wears a black wristband with the words "Ryan Shay Believe in Yourself." He stated that those were the last words he said to Shay and that he has been wearing the band in Shay's memory since his funeral.³

Athletics Career

After moving to the United States in 1990, Abdirahman began running in 1996.⁴ He placed highly in several competitions, including third at the 1999 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, but was disqualified as at the time he was not a U.S. citizen. Abdirahman officially became an American citizen on January 28, 2000. He competed in his first Olympics just a few months later, placing 10th in the 10,000 meter event at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Abdirahman continued to place highly in the 10,000 meter events at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, taking first in 2001 and second in 2002. He finished the event 15th at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. Abdirahman saw further success at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2005 and 2007, placing first in each contest.¹