Sport
Safia Abukar Hussein (Saafiya Abuukar Xuseen)
Safia Abukar Hussein (born 1 January 1981) is a sprinter who was the first Somali woman to compete at the Olympics, running the 400 metres for Somalia at Sydney 2000. She finished sixth in her heat. Wikipedia notes that she faced criticism at home, where female athletes were uncommon.
Who is she?
Safia Abukar Hussein is a sprinter, born on 1 January 1981, who competed internationally for Somalia (Wikipedia, 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).
At home
Wikipedia says female athletes were uncommon in Somalia and older men criticised her for not staying at home (Wikipedia). 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.
In short
The first Somali woman to run at the Olympics, in Sydney in 2000.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Safia Abukar Hussein · en.wikipedia.org
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