Lopez Lomong

Infobox Person
name = Lopez Lomong

---

caption = Lopez Lomong runs in the first round of the men's 1500 meter run at the US Olympic Team Trials-Track & Field, held at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.
birth_date = birth date and age|1985|1|1
birth_place = Kimotong, Southern Sudan
death_date =
death_place =
other_names = Lopepe Lomong
known_for =
occupation = Track and field athlete
nationality = Sudanese
ethnicity =
citizenship = USA (s. 2007)

Lopez Lomong (born Lopepe Lomongcite news |first= Tom |last= Farrey |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= I came all the way here, so I have to run |url= http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfield/columns/story?id=3468567&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2 |work= |publisher= ESPN The Magazine |date= 2008-07-02 |accessdate=2008-08-07 ] on January 1, 1985 in Kimotong, Sudan) is a Sudanese-born American track and field athlete. One of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Lomong came to the United States at age 16 and became a U.S. citizen in 2007.

Lomong qualified for 2008 Summer Olympics in the 1500 meters at the United States Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon. [cite news |first=Philip |last=Hersh |title=A winner in long run |url= http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-080706-olympic-track-field-lomong,0,7302465.story |publisher= Chicago Tribune |date= 2008-07-06 |accessdate=2008-08-10 ] He was the flag bearer for the United States during the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Lomong is a member of Team Darfur, a group of athletes urging China to exert pressure on the Sudanese government to address the War in Darfur.

Biography

Lopez Lomong was born "Lopepe Lomong" in a small village in Southern Sudan to Awei Lomong and Rita Namanacite web|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/sports/olympics/02runner.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&ref=sports&oref=login|date=2008-07-02|title=Odyssey May End at Olympics for Lomong|accessdate=2008-08-08|publisher=New York Times|first=Jeré|last=Longman] .Lomong was a victim of the Second Sudanese Civil War. A Catholic, he was abducted at age six while attending Catholic Mass and assumed dead by his family and buried in absentia. He nearly died in captivity, but was helped to escape by others from his village. The four of them ran for three days until they crossed the border in Kenya. Lomong spent ten years in a refugee camp near Nairobi before being moved to the United States through Catholic Charities. His name "Lopez" was a nickname from the refugee camp that he later adopted officially. Although he originally assumed his parents had been killed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army, he was reunited with his mother and family in 2003, who now live outside Nairobi. He first returned to his native village in December, 2006.

He was inspired to become a runner following watching Michael Johnson at the 2000 Summer Olympics on television.

Lomong is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. He was resettled in the United States through Catholic Charities with Robert and Barbara Rogers, in New York State. The Rogers have since gone on to sponsor many other Sudanese refugees. Lomong attended Tully High School in Tully, NY, entering at a 10th grade level. In high school, he helped lead the cross country and track teams to sectional and state titles, and later competed for Northern Arizona University. In 2007, Lomong was the division I NCAA indoor champion at 3000 meters and the outdoor champion at 1500 meters.

He became a naturalized citizen of the United States on July 6, 2007.

2008 Summer Olympics

Lomong qualified for the US Olympic Team on July 6, 2008, one year after gaining his US citizenship.cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olydwyre9-2008aug09,1,3223914.column?page=2 |title=U.S. Olympian Lopez Lomong's great escape |work=Los Angeles Times |author=Bill Dwyre |date=2008-08-08 |accessdate=2008-08-08] "Now I'm not just one of the 'Lost Boys,'" he told reporters. "I'm an American." [ cite news|last=Pells|first=Eddie|url=http://teamusa.org/news/article/3048|publisher=TeamUSA|date=2008-08-06|title=Lomong chosen as US flagbearer at Beijing Games] [ cite news|last=Litke|first=Jim|url=http://teamusa.org/news/article/3206|publisher=Team USA|date=2008-08-07|title=From African refugee camp to Olympic start line]

After his success at the collegiate level, Lopez signed a contract with Nike and now competes professionally. He specializes in the 1500m run but is a serious contender in every mid-distance race from 800m up to and including the 5k. Lopez finished 5th in the 800m finals during the 2008 US Olympic Trials, which he ran as part of his training for the 1500m.

Lomong was chosen by the team captains of the US Olympic team to carry the US flag in the Opening Ceremony at the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, an honor for which he campaigned. The U.S. Olympic team captains said that Lomong deserved the honor of flagbearer because he was so proud of his citizenship.cite news|last=Bodeen|first=Christopher|url=http://teamusa.org/news/article/3342|publisher=Team USA|date=2008-08-08|title=US flagbearer Lomong dodges political questions]

Lopez is a member of Team Darfur. In the weeks leading up to the Olympics Lomong spoke often about the need to raise awareness for the violence in Darfur. Since his selection as flagbearer he has been careful not to criticize China directly, choosing instead to focus on the inspirational side of his story. "I'm here to compete for my country," Lomong told reporters when they asked questions about human rights. "The Olympics are supposed to bring people together to peacefully blend and I'm looking forward to that and stepping on the track and wearing my colors and representing my country." With reference to China specifically, Lomong answered "Chinese people have been great putting all these things together. It's great being here."

He was eliminated in the semifinals of the 1500 at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

References

External links

*
* [http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Lomong_Lopez.asp USA Track & Field: Lopez Lomong]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfield/columns/story?id=3468567&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2 ESPN Interview with Lopez Lomong]
* [http://www.teamdarfur.org Team Darfur]