Safia Abukar Hussein (born 1 January 1981) is a
sprinter who competed internationally for
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐; ar, ุงูุตูู
ุงู, aแนฃ-แนขลซmฤl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
. Hussein was the first
Somali female to compete at the Olympics for her country when she competed in the
400 metres at the
2000 Summer Olympics
The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 ( Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from ...
in
Sydney.
She was not always supported in Somalia, where female athletes are uncommon and older men would criticise her for not staying at home.
Hussein's father disliked the idea, as he was concerned that it would prevent her from finding a husband. Nevertheless, he subsequently allowed her to compete in Sydney for the sake of Somalia.
She finished her heat in 6th place and did not advance to the next round.
References
1981 births
Living people
Somalian female sprinters
Olympic athletes of Somalia
Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic female sprinters
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