We've had a lot of Olympians join us over the years, but none that have made the team FOUR times. Abdi Abdirahman has represented the USA at the past four Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012). His astounding streak is longer than some of the runners competing this weekend have been alive!
Nicknamed "The Black Cactus", Abdi was born in Somolia and moved to the United States when he was 12-years-old. His family sought to escape the escalating Civil War in his home country. After a stellar high school and college career in Arizona, he started on his amazing string of Olympic teams representing the United States.
Now 37-years-old, Abdi has qualified in the 10K for every US Olympic team since 2000. In the 2012 London Games he added a second event by making the team in the Marathon as well. He is perhaps the most under-rated distance runner in the United States, while having one of the longest and most prolific careers in history!
His personal bests include:
5K - 13:13.32
10K - 27:16.99
15K - 43:21
Half Marathon - 1:01:07
Marathon - 2:08:56
He will be joining us both days around the midway at the event. He wil be hanging out, answering questions, signing autographs, posing for photos, handing out awards, firing the ROC starting gun, and who knows... maybe even helping to judge a dance contest! See you all there!
Getting to know The Black Cactus
More on Abdi
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We've had a lot of Olympians join us over the years, but none that have made the team FOUR times. Abdi Abdirahman has represented the USA at the past four Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012). His astounding streak is longer than some of the runners competing this weekend have been alive!
Nicknamed "The Black Cactus", Abdi was born in Somolia and moved to the United States when he was 12-years-old. His family sought to escape the escalating Civil War in his home country. After a stellar high school and college career in Arizona, he started on his amazing string of Olympic teams representing the United States.
