Perina Lokure Nakang (born 2003) is a middle-distance runner from South Sudan.

Early life

Born in South Sudan, she left to seek sanctuary in Kenya with her aunt in 2010 at the age of seven years-old due to the conflict in her home country. They lived in a UNHCR

refugee camp A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees and people in refugee-like situations. Refugee camps usually accommodate displaced people who have fled their home country, but camps are also made for internally displaced peo ...

in Kakuma, northern Kenya. She was later reunited with her mother and four siblings, although her father died after she had fled. She attended the boarding school the All4Running Shoes4Africa Secondary School in

Kapsabet Kapsabet is a town in Kenya. It is the capital of Nandi County and is located 40 kilometres southwest of Eldoret on the way to Chavakali. The name Kapsabet comes from "Kap"- 'belong to/area of' and "sabit" or "sobet" – 'live' and has come to ...

, Kenya.

Career

Part of the World Athletics U20 refugee programme and the African Higher Education in Emergencies Network (AHEEN) and Youth Education and Sports (YES). She is coached by

Janeth Jepkosgei Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei (born 13 December 1983) is a Kenyan middle distance runner and former world champion. Early career Janeth, nicknamed "Eldoret Express" is from Kabirirsang, near Kapsabet. Famous athletes Wilson Kipketer and Wilfre ...

in a group that also contains

Brenda Chebet Brenda Chebet (born 16 March 2004) is a Kenyan track and field athlete. She won silver at the 1500 metres at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships. In February 2023 she won a gold medal in the mixed relay at the 2023 World Athletics Cross ...

and

Nelly Chepchirchir Nelly Chepchirchir (born 4 June 2003) is a Kenyan track and field athlete. Career Chepchirchir competed at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colonbia and qualified for the final of the 800 metres. In the final she ran a new per ...

. She finished seventh at the Kenyan national trials 800m race in 2023. She competed in the 800 metres at the

2023 World Athletics Championships The 2023 World Athletics Championships ( hu, 2023-as atlétikai világbajnokság), the nineteenth edition of the World Athletics Championships, are scheduled to be held from 19 August to 27 August 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. The city of Budapes ...

in Budapest. She competed at the

World Athletics Cross Country Championships World Athletics Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Formerly held annually and organised by World Athletics (formerly the IAAF), it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the Int ...

in Belgrade in 2024 as part of the World Athletics Athlete Refugee Team. In May 2024, she was confirmed on the IOC Refugee Team for the

2024 Paris Olympics ) , nations = TBA , athletes = 10,500 ''(quota limit)'' , events = 329 in 32 sports (48 disciplines) , opening = 26 July 2024 , closing = 11 August 2024 , opened_by = , stadium = Stade de France Jardins du Trocadéro and River Seine , summe ...

Personal life

She was one of four featured refugee athletes on a promotional video entitled ''Watch Where We're Going'' made by Nike in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam designed to highlight the experiences of discrimination and prejudice faced by refugees.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nakang, Perina Lokure South Sudanese refugees Place of birth missing (living people) South Sudanese expatriate sportspeople in Kenya 2003 births Living people South Sudanese female middle-distance runners Athlete Refugee Team at the World Athletics Championships Refugee Olympic Team at the 2024 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics