Elias Rodriguez (born 23 August 1964 in

Pohnpei Pohnpei "upon (''pohn'') a stone altar (''pei'')" (formerly known as Ponape or Ascension, Proto-Chuukic-Pohnpeic: ''*Fawo ni pei)'' is an island of the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group. It belongs to Pohnpei ...

) he is a retired athlete who competed internationally for the

Federated States of Micronesia The Federated States of Micronesia (; abbreviated FSM) is an island country in Oceania. It consists of four states from west to east, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosraethat are spread across the western Pacific. Together, the states comprise a ...

.Sports-Reference Profile
/ref> Rodriguez represented Federated States of Micronesia at the 2000 Summer Olympics in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

. He competed in the marathon where he finished 81st in a time of 3:09:14. Rodriguez's training for the 2000 Olympic marathon included pre dawn long runs over hills on his home island of Pohnpei and speed work in the evenings following days working at a full-time job. Rodriquez's Olympic marathon experience was unique according to coach and training partner Jim Blair, "Elias may have been the only marathoner running that day whose training included a full days work at a hardware store." In a field of 100 Rodriquez finished 81st, ahead of 19 world-class runners who had dropped out. As the last athlete to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics Rodriquez may have received its largest ovation as over 100,000 spectators cheered him on as they awaited the closing ceremonies and fireworks only moments after he crossed the finish line.

Post-Olympic Career

Rodriguez coached and mentored the

's Olympic track and field athletes at the

2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics ( pt, Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 2016), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad ( pt, Jogos da XXXI Olimpíada) and also known as Rio 2016, was an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 20 ...

held in

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

References

External links

* 1964 births Living people People from Pohnpei State Olympic track and field athletes for the Federated States of Micronesia Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Federated States of Micronesia male marathon runners Federated States of Micronesia male long-distance runners {{2000-Olympic-stub