USA’s 5x Olympian Marathon Runner Defies Age as He Prepares for His 6th Olympic Appearance at the Age of 47

For track and field athletes, the window to make a name for themselves is relatively smaller. Given how incredibly physically demanding the sport is, keeping pique form can become a daunting task for most. And yet, for the 5-time US Olympian runner Abdihakem Abdirahman, the impossible looks to be within touching distances as he trains for his next Olympic stint.

The 2016 New York City Marathon winner has set his eyes on one last ride as he looks for a spot on the US track and field national team for the upcoming Paris Olympics. While his place at the team qualifiers is sealed by being on the 2020 Olympics team, Abdirahman still has a long way to go before he confirms his ticket to the French capital for later this year.

Veteran Olympian eyeing one final run

In a recent social media post by Citius Mag on X, Abdirahman’s ambitions have been shed light on. The long-distance runner made his Olympic debut in 2000, placing tenth in the 10,000m event. While Abdirahman hasn’t had many Olympic glory moments to show for in his five appearances, his mere presence on the team can work as a boost for the others. And now, the sprinter is gearing up for one showdown before taking the exit from the big stage. “Gonna need an extra finger, @Abdi_runs”, reads the caption of the post, signifying the dreams of Abdirahman as he looks to represent his country at the Olympics for an incredible 6th time.

“The Black Cactus wasn’t ready to retire“, writes the post further, underscoring his unrelenting spirit to keep pushing himself for the better. Abdirahman will have to overcome major challenges on his way to Paris if he wishes to become the oldest runner to appear in the Olympic Games (he’s 47).

However, he can ensure his spot in Team USA by finishing the team trials in the top two. While his records make it look a difficult feat to achieve, his experience can easily tilt the balance in the veteran’s favor. Over his long and illustrious career, the Somalia-born sprinter has achieved a lot that can evoke envy in any track and field athlete around the world.

A prolonged track and field career

Abdirahman has represented the United States in five Olympics (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2020). While this is an impressive feat on its own, Abdirahman’s desire for a podium finish has remained elusive. While he won the 10,000m race at the 2008 team trials, his final position was a repeat of his placement from 2004 (15th).

Read more: Months After Injury, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Goes All-Out to Mark Final Run at Paris Olympics

During the 2012 Olympic Marathon, a knee injury forced him to quit the race halfway, while in 2020, Abdirahman finished 41st. And now, as he looks at his final Olympic appearance, we hope Abdirahman ends his Olympic career on a high note.

Watch this story: Sha’Carri Richardson Placates the Sparks of Beef With the Jamaican Sprinting Legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce