Abdul Baser Wasiqi

With a best marathon time of 2-33:21, the 21-year-old Abdul Baser Wasiqi from Afghanistan was all set to compete at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics but, due to the ongoing war in his country, he was unable to participate. However, four years later he was set to make his début, but sadly damaged a hamstring shortly before arriving in Atlanta. However, nothing was going to stop him competing this time.

Just over three kilometres into the race, Wasiqi was already a full kilometre behind the field as he limped his way around the course. When South Africa’s Josia Thugwane crossed the finish line in first place, Wasiqi had just passed the 25-kilometre mark but, along the route, he attracted a lot of attention from spectators willing him on.

When Wasiqi finally limped into the Olympic stadium, volunteers were preparing for the closing ceremony and they cut a piece of white plastic tape, wrote “Atlanta 1996” on it, and stretched it across the track. Hundreds of volunteers lined the track, and having persuaded the band to stop their rehearsal, applauded the Afghan runner while he inched painfully to the finish. Wasiqi finished 111th, nearly an hour and a half behind the 110th man Abdi Isak of Somalia. Wasiqi’s time of 4-24:17 was the slowest in Olympic marathon history, but he immortalised the Olympic spirit.

Personal Best: Mar – unknown.