Hem Bunting

Hem Bunting ( born December 12, 1985 in the province of Stung Treng ) is a Cambodian middle and long distance runners.

As a participant in the World Half Marathon Championships in 2004 he joined the 79th of 84 runners to the finish and set with 1:19:40 h a national record. At the Asia Championships 2005, he finished third in 1500 -meter run to 20th place in 4:03,87 min.

In 2006, he improved his half marathon record at 1:14:06 h In the Southeast Asia Games 2007 in Nakhon Ratchasima, he won bronze in the 5000 - meter race and silver in the marathon, with each country's record ( 14:24,71 min or 2: 26:28 h).

At the Olympic Games in 2008, Hem was one of three Cambodian participants. He started in the marathon in 2:33:32 h and reached 73 as of 76 athletes the target.

Hem Bunting is one of nine children in a peasant family. After his athletic talent was discovered, he was taken by officials in the capital Phnom Penh, where he lives in a dorm room of dilapidated stadium with the other elite athletes in the country. His monthly income amount to the equivalent of $ 50, half of what a pair of running shoes costs.