Career
In preparation for competitive meets in 2008, Omar trained under difficult circumstances, facing harassment from local militants who did not believe that Muslim women should participate in sporting activities. On account of civil unrest in Mogadishu, she also did not benefit from the consistent coaching, reliable facilities and competitive meets that other elite-level athletes enjoy.
In May 2008, Samia competed in the 100 metre sprint at the African Championships. Only 16 years old at the time of the competition, she finished last in her first round heat.
Samia also represented Somalia at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She managed a personal record of 32.16 seconds in the 200 metre sprint event, with the crowd roaring in applause.
In 2011, Samia moved to Addis Abeba, the capital of neighboring Ethiopia, where a more robust and established running culture exists. Now a middle-distance athlete, she was due to begin training with former Olympian Eshetu Tura, who was recommended to her by the prominent Qatar-based Somali track coach Jama Aden and the Olympic medalist Mohamed Suleiman. Samia hoped to be prepared in time to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Read more about this topic: Samia Yusuf Omar
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