Somalian runner sets record for slowest 100m sprint ever
Somalia’s sports minister issued an apology after an "untrained" athlete went viral for the "slowest-ever" 100m sprint.
A Somalian sprinter who competed in the World University Games in Chengdu, China, went viral after running the slowest 100m time ever.
Nasra Abukar Ali, 20, ran the 100m in 21.81 seconds, leaving her 10 seconds behind the leader.
Video footage that has since gone viral shows Ali seemingly skip across the finish line as her opponents embarrassingly leave her behind.
According to reports, this time was the slowest ever in an international competition.
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On Wednesday, Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Barre Mohamud, apologised over the matter.
"The Ministry of Youth and Sports should step down. It's disheartening to witness such an incompetent government. How could they select an untrained girl to represent Somalia in running? It's truly shocking and reflects poorly on our country internationally," wrote one Twitter user.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports should step down. It's disheartening to witness such an incompetent government. How could they select an untrained girl to represent Somalia in running? It's truly shocking and reflects poorly on our country internationally. pic.twitter.com/vMkBUA5JSL
— Elham Garaad ✍︎ (@EGaraad_) August 1, 2023
Mohamud also revealed on Wednesday that the ministry had suspended Khadijo Aden Dahir, the chairwoman of the Somali Athletics Federation.
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According to a letter addressed to the Somali National Olympic Committee and a tweet by the ministry, Dahir had engaged in "acts of abuse of power, nepotism, and defaming the name of the nation in international arena".
The sports minister claimed that the runner was untrained and that she was not a "sports person nor a runner".
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