Mustafa Mohamed
Encyclopedia
Mustafa Hassan Mohamed (born March 1, 1979) is a Somali
-Swedish
long-distance runner who mainly competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase
.
, Somalia
, Mohamed moved to Sweden
at the age of 11. He eventually became a Swedish citizen, and now lives in Lysekil
.
, Mohamed progressed significantly over the next few years. In 2003, he lowered his personal best time from 8:32 to 8:23 in the 3000 meter steeplechase, and at the 2004 Olympics
, he ran the event in 8:18.05 minutes.
He reached the podium three times at the Nordic Cross Country Championships
: first winning a bronze in the men's junior race at the inaugural edition in 1997, then going on to win a silver medal
in the senior race in 2003, and finally taking the gold
in 2006. He won at the Eurocross
meeting in 2006, and then went on to take a bronze medal at the 2006 European Cross Country Championships
later in the year.
Later, at the 2005 World Championships
, Mohamed finished tenth but improved upon that the following year in Stockholm
with a time of 8:14.67. A month later in August 2006, he finished fourth at the 2006 European Athletics Championships.
On July 28, 2007, Mohamed posted a time of 8:05.75, thereby beating the 31 year old Swedish record
. Later that season, he finished fourth in the 2007 World Championships
.
On June 21, 2009, Mohamed competed in and took home gold at the 1st SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria
, Portugal
.
At the 2010 Swedish Athletics Championships he completed a triple long-distance victory by winning the 3000 m steeplechase, 5000 metres
, and 10,000 metres. This made him only the second man to complete the feat, after Dan Glans 1976 wins.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
-Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
long-distance runner who mainly competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
.
Biography
Born in MogadishuMogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, Mohamed moved to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
at the age of 11. He eventually became a Swedish citizen, and now lives in Lysekil
Lysekil
Lysekil is a locality and the seat of Lysekil Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 7,568 inhabitants in 2005.The picturesque coastal town of Lysekil is a major tourist destination during the Swedish summer period from June to the end of August.Lysekil is known as originator of the...
.
Athletic career
Having finished eighth for Sweden at the 1998 World Junior ChampionshipsIAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics
The IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics are the world championships for junior aged athletes athletes, organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It is held biennially since 1986.-Championships:-Men:-Women:-External links:* at...
, Mohamed progressed significantly over the next few years. In 2003, he lowered his personal best time from 8:32 to 8:23 in the 3000 meter steeplechase, and at the 2004 Olympics
Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 3,000 metres Steeplechase
The Men's 3,000 m Steeplechase was one of two male-exclusive events out of the 23 track events of the 2004 Summer Olympics, in Athens. It was contested at the Athens Olympic Stadium, from August 21 to August 24, by a total of 41 athletes from 27 nations....
, he ran the event in 8:18.05 minutes.
He reached the podium three times at the Nordic Cross Country Championships
Nordic Cross Country Championships
The Nordic Cross Country Championships is an annual international cross country running competition that is contested between the Nordic countries...
: first winning a bronze in the men's junior race at the inaugural edition in 1997, then going on to win a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the senior race in 2003, and finally taking the gold
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in 2006. He won at the Eurocross
Eurocross
Eurocross is an annual international cross country running competition which takes place in Diekirch, Luxembourg in February. It is one of the IAAF permit meetings which serve as qualifying events for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships....
meeting in 2006, and then went on to take a bronze medal at the 2006 European Cross Country Championships
2006 European Cross Country Championships
The 13th European Cross Country Championships were held at San Giorgio su Legnano in Italy on 10 December 2006. Mohammed Farah took the title in the men's competition, while Tetyana Holovchenko won the women's race.-Men individual 9.95km:...
later in the year.
Later, at the 2005 World Championships
2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
, Mohamed finished tenth but improved upon that the following year in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
with a time of 8:14.67. A month later in August 2006, he finished fourth at the 2006 European Athletics Championships.
On July 28, 2007, Mohamed posted a time of 8:05.75, thereby beating the 31 year old Swedish record
Swedish records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Sweden maintained by its national athletics federation: Svenska Friidrottsförbundet .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:OT = oversized track# = not recognised by federation-External links:* *...
. Later that season, he finished fourth in the 2007 World Championships
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
.
On June 21, 2009, Mohamed competed in and took home gold at the 1st SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria
Leiria
Leiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
At the 2010 Swedish Athletics Championships he completed a triple long-distance victory by winning the 3000 m steeplechase, 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
, and 10,000 metres. This made him only the second man to complete the feat, after Dan Glans 1976 wins.