Refugee runner Anjelina Nadai Lohalth dedicated her European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country title to all refugees across the world as she flies to Australia to represent refugee team at the world cross country championships set for Saturday in Bathurst.
The South Sudan refugee now training in Kenya at Complete Sports in UASIN Gishu county became the first refugee runner to win a medal at the international championships during the European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country held in Castellon, Spain last week, competing in the 8.7km distance.
Nadai said that she went for the race well prepared and the win was exciting.
“I didn’t have enough experience in cross country running especially at the international stage because you compete in the 1,500m. The win means that there are good things ahead and this stands for many refugees across the globe at least there is that feeling that refugees can also win a race and I have dedicated my medal to all refugees across the globe,” said Nandai.
She said that many refugees have been given chances to compete at the global stage but winning is so hard.
“All my winning is dedicated to refugees so that for them to win, they need proper training and can win like anybody. At our camp, we are five refugee athletes who are aiming for more competition to open chances for other refugees who may want to win like me,” she said.
Nadai said that being a refugee is not a good status for most people but appreciated the Kenyan government for hosting them unlike other countries.
“Being a refugee is not someone’s choice and anybody can be. I want to thank the UN for being there to protect us. I also want to thank the IOC, World Athletics for supporting our talents. Being an athlete is not easy and requires commitment. Sometimes facing some challenges may make one give up but when you are committed, you always feel like going too far. Initially I did not have a good foundation for running but when I started running, I felt it was great,” she explained.
With the upcoming world events like the World Championships in Budapest and Paris Olympic Games, Nadai has gone back to training to secure another chance at the podium.
“I managed to win the race and it was a good experience for me and for the first time to win a race in about five to six years of training. Running 8.7km was not easy. When I was handed a chance to compete, I did not know that I could win because it was my first time competing at an international cross country. Previously, I used to compete in the 1,500m in so many races and I was not good enough since the training I used to have was not good for me,” said Nadai who was in the 2016 Olympic games team in Rio de Janeiro.
Her coach Elijah Samoe is a confident man that Nadai will go places in her career following the victory.
“She is a disciplined athlete and if she continues like this, she will be the world champion,” said Samoe.