# Safia Abukar Hussein (Saafiya Abuukar Xuseen)

> Safia Abukar Hussein (b.1981): first Somali woman at the Olympics, Sydney 2000.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/safia-abukar-hussein/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who is she?

Safia Abukar Hussein is a sprinter, born on 1 January 1981, who competed internationally for Somalia ([Wikipedia, Safia Abukar Hussein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safia_Abukar_Hussein)). She was the first Somali woman to compete at the Olympics for her country (same source).

## Sydney 2000

She ran the 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, finishing sixth in her heat and not advancing ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safia_Abukar_Hussein)).

## At home

Wikipedia says female athletes were uncommon in Somalia and older men criticised her for not staying at home ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safia_Abukar_Hussein)). Her father at first disliked the idea, fearing it would stop her finding a husband, but then let her compete in Sydney for the sake of Somalia (same source). See [Samia Yusuf Omar](/en/people/samia-yusuf-omar/).

## In short

The first Somali woman to run at the Olympics, in Sydney in 2000.

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