Mohammad Ahmed Suleiman (Arabic: محمد أحمد سليمان; born 23 November 1969)[1] is a Qatari middle-distance runner that won Qatar its first Olympic medal ever.

Mohammed Suleiman
Personal information
Full nameMohammad Ahmed Suleiman
NationalityQatari
BornDoha, Qatar
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight67 kg (148 lb)
Sport
Country Qatar
SportAthletics
EventMiddle distance running
ClubMizuno Track Club International
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Qatar
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona 1500 m
IAAF World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1992 Havana 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 1994 London 1500 m
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1990 Beijing 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 1990 Beijing 5000 m
Gold medal – first place 1994 Hiroshima 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 1998 Bangkok 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 1998 Bangkok 5000 m
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 1991 Kuala Lumpur 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 1991 Kuala Lumpur 5000 m
Gold medal – first place 1995 Jakarta 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 1998 Fukuoka 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 2000 Jakarta 1500 m
Silver medal – second place 1995 Jakarta 800 m
Bronze medal – third place 1989 New Delhi 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 1989 New Delhi 3000 m st.
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Jakarta 5000 m

Career

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Suleiman was born in Buuhoodle, Somalia to a noble lineage of the Dhulbahante, Farah Garad (Axmed Garaad) and was naturalized in Qatar in his youth.[2][3]

At the age of 18, Suleiman participated in the Olympic Games in Seoul over 1500 metres. However, he did not progress to the semi-finals. In 1991, Suleiman qualified for the World Championships in Tokyo, where he came in ninth.

In 1992, he achieved the greatest success of his career when he won the bronze medal in the Barcelona Olympics thus becoming the first-ever Olympic medallist for Qatar. Throughout his career, Suleiman ran several Asian records over 1500 m and the mile run.

He won the gold medal in the 1500 m representing Asia at the 1992 IAAF World Cup. Suleiman ran for Qatar at two further Olympic Games (in 1996 and 2000) and reached the event finals, although he did not make the podium.

Suleiman's younger brothers Nasser and Abdulrahman Suleiman have also competed internationally in middle-distance running – Abdulrahman was the 2002 Asian champion in the 1500 m.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Mohamed Suleiman". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  2. ^ Reiche, Danyel. "Investing in sporting success as a domestic and foreign policy tool: the case of Qatar." International journal of sport policy and politics 7.4 (2015): 489-504.
  3. ^ Taariikhda caan ah. Isku day inaad hal aayad akhriso maalin kasta ama ka badan.
  4. ^ Mohan, K. P. (2002-08-12). Abdulrahman keeps up family tradition; China maintains superiority . The Hindu. Retrieved on 2010-09-04.

References

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