Abdi Abdirahman

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameAbdihakim "Abdi"•Abdirahman
Used nameAbdi•Abdirahman
Nick/petnamesThe Black Cactus
Born1 January 1977 in Mogadishu, Banaadir (SOM)
Measurements178 cm / 61 kg
AffiliationsNike, Beaverton (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

Abdi Abdirahman was an American distance runner of Somalian ethnicity who competed at five Olympic Games between 2000-2020, missing only the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Abdirahman grew up in Tucson, Arizona and attended the University of Arizona, becoming a US citizen in 2000. He placed second in 1998 at the NCAA cross-country championships. He also competed for five consecutive years (2000-04) at the World Cross-Country Championships, winning a bronze medal in 2001 in the team event.

Abdirahman started out as a track runner but transitioned to the marathon later in his career. He ran the marathon at the 2012 and 2020 Olympics and finished third at the 2016 New York City Marathon. He also placed third at major marathons in 2012 in Houston and 2020 in Atlanta. He set his marathon PR in placing fourth at the 2006 Chicago Marathon.

Personal Best: 10000 – 27:16.99 (2008), Mara – 2-08:56 (2006).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
2000 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Abdi Abdirahman
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 10
2004 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Abdi Abdirahman
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 15
2008 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Abdi Abdirahman
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 15
2012 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Abdi Abdirahman
Marathon, Men (Olympic) DNF
2020 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Abdi Abdirahman
Marathon, Men (Olympic) 40

Olympic family relations