Lopez Lomong

Lopez Lomong ( born Lopepe Lomong, born January 1, 1985 in Kimotong, State Sharq al - Istiwa'iyya ) is an American middle distance runner of Sudanese origin.

As a boy of six, he was kidnapped during the civil war in southern Sudan by a militia, recruited child soldiers. He escaped and made ​​his way to Kenya, where for ten years he lived in the Kakuma refugee camp. As part of the International Rescue Committee program he joined in 2001 as one of about 3,500 so-called Lost Boys of Sudan to the United States, where a foster family in Tully (Upstate New York) took his.

He began as a college athlete. His athletic talent led him into the team of Northern Arizona University. With Nike as a sponsor in 2007, he began his professional career and this year was NCAA champion in the 3,000 meters indoors and 1500 feet outdoors. In July 2007, he received U.S. citizenship.

In 2008 he qualified as a third in the U.S. elimination fights over 1500 meters for the Olympic Games in Beijing, where he reached the semifinals. In 2009 he was the same distance aft at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, and in 2012 he was at the IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships in Istanbul sixth over 3000 m.

Lopez Lomong, as a member of Team Darfur athletes association for a solution to the Darfur conflict. He was determined for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games as flag carrier of the U.S. team, which was considered as a political signal.

Personal Best

• 800 m: 1:45,58 min, 30 June 2008 Eugene
• 1500 m: 3:32,20 min 22 July, 2010, Monaco
• 1 miles: 3:53,18 min, July 3, 2010, Eugene
• 3000 m: 7:50,36 min, July 13, 2011 Liège Hall: 7:44,16 min 11 March, 2012, Istanbul