Djibouti competed 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 ...

in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. The nation's participation marked its eighth appearance at the Summer Olympics. Djibouti did not field any athletes at the

2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

in Athens. The Djibouti National Olympic Committee (french: Comité National Olympique Djiboutien) sent its second largest delegation to the Games, falling one athlete short of the record eight athletes sent to compete at the

Barcelona 1992 The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...

Summer Olympic Games. A total of seven athletes, six men and one woman, were selected to the Djibouti team to compete in athletics, judo, and swimming. Marathoner Mumin Gala was the only athlete returning for his second appearance from London 2012, while middle-distance runner

Abdi Waiss Mouhyadin Abdi Waiss Mouhyadin ( so, Cabdi Wacays Muxiyadiin) is a Djiboutian middle-distance runner competing primarily in the 1500 metres. He represented his country at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing reaching the semifinals. In addition he won ...

led his squad as Djibouti's flag bearer in the opening ceremony. Djibouti failed to collect an Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, which would have been the country's first since the

1988 Summer Olympics The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...

in Seoul, where

Hussein Ahmed Salah Hussein Ahmed Salah ( ar, حسين أحمد صلاح, so, Xuseen Axmed Saalax) is a Djiboutian former long-distance runner, best known for winning a bronze medal in the marathon at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He also won silver medals in this eve ...

won the bronze in the men's marathon.

Ayanleh Souleiman Ayanleh Souleiman (born 3 December 1992), also known as ''Hassan Ayanleh'' ( so, Xasan Ayaanle Saleebaan) is a Djiboutian middle distance runner who specialises in the 1500 metres. He is the Djiboutian record holder for the distance, with his be ...

almost ended the nation's 28-year drought on the podium, but he slipped out of medals to fourth in the men's 1500 metres.

Background

Djibouti participated in eight Summer Olympic Games between its debut in the

1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the secon ...

in Los Angeles, United States and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Djibouti made their Olympic debut in 1984, sending three athletes to the Games. The highest number of Djiboutian athletes participating in a Summer Games is eight in the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Spain. Marathon runner Hussein Ahmed Salah is the only Djiboutian athlete to win a medal, which he did in the 1988 marathon.

Athletics (track and field)

qualified for the

800 m The 800 metres, or meters ( US spelling), is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event. The 800 metres is run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the ...

race by having a qualifying time better than 1:46.00. He placed first in his heat for the 800 m with a time of 1:45.48, which qualified him for the semifinal round along with three other runners in his heat. There were seven heats in the first round. Hassan Mohamed Kamil, Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, congratulated him saying, "May God give him the strength to win the next competitions and always raise the national colors." Souleiman finished with a better time in the semifinal round with a time of 1:45.19, but placed fourth in the heat and did not qualify for the final round. He would have needed to beat Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich's time of 1:44.65 to qualify for the final round. Heats3000mSteepleRio2016 023

Djibouti had two athletes qualify for the

1500 m The 1500 metres or 1,500-metre run (typically pronounced 'fifteen-hundred metres') is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896 and the World Championships in Athletic ...

run with a qualification time better than 3:36.20. Ayanleh Souleiman finished third in the first heat with a time 3:39.25, which qualified him for the semifinals. He finished in 2nd place in that heat with a time of 3:39.46, which qualified him for the finals. In the finals, Souleiman finished in fourth place with a time of 3:50.29. He was 0.05 seconds away from the bronze medal, and 0.29 seconds away from the gold. The other Djiboutian that qualified for the 1500 m run,

, did not finish the race. On the final lap, he tripped and required help to leave the track. Waiss was also the flagbearer for Djibouti in the opening ceremony.

Mohamed Ismail Ibrahim Mohamed Ismail Ibrahim (born 1 January 1997) is a Djiboutian runner. At the 2016 Summer Olympics he competed in the 3000 m steeplechase The 3000 metres steeplechase or 3000-meter steeplechase (usually abbreviated as ) is the most common distanc ...

qualified for the

3000 m steeplechase The 3000 metres steeplechase or 3000-meter steeplechase (usually abbreviated as ) is the most common distance for the steeplechase in track and field. It is an obstacle race over the distance of the 3000 metres, which derives its name from the h ...

by performing better than the qualification time of 8:30.00. He finished with a time of 8:53.10 for 12th place in his heat. He would have needed a time of 8:26.59 or better to advance to the finals, and was therefore eliminated. Ibrahim was the closing ceremony flag bearer for Djibouti. Mumin Gala, the only returning Olympian for Djibouti, qualified for the

marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...

with a time better than 2:19:00. Gala set his personal record at Rio with a time of 2:13:04 and finished in 12th place out of 155 participants.

Kadra Mohamed Dembil Kadra Mohamed Dembil (born April 22, 1997) is an ethnically Somali Djiboutian middle-distance runner who lives in Ali Sabieh. Kadra dropped out of high school. She speaks Somali and knows some French. Kadra joined a club, Girls Run 2, in 2012, ...

was the sole woman athlete for Djibouti in Rio. She qualified for the

via a universality placement. Dembil finished 12th out of 14 in her heat, failing to advance to the next round. With her time of 4:42.67, she set a national record. ;Track & road events

Judo

Anass Houssein Anass Houssein (born 10 January 1995) is a Djiboutian judoka. He competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, in the men's 66 kg, where he lost to Ma Duanbin Ma Duanbin (born 28 March 1990) is a Chinese judoka. He has represe ...

qualified for the Men's −66 kg via a wildcard spot. He competed on August 7 at the Carioca Arena 2. Houssein started in the second round against

Ma Duanbin Ma Duanbin (born 28 March 1990) is a Chinese judoka. He has represented his country at the World Judo Championships, and competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics ( pt, Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 2016), officially the ...

of the People's Republic of China, but lost the first match which eliminated him from contention.

Swimming

Djibouti received a universality invitation from FINA to send a male swimmer to the Olympics. Bourhan Abro, a son of diplomat Ahmed Abro, competed in the men's 50 m freestyle at the

Olympic Aquatics Stadium The Olympic Aquatics Stadium ( pt, Estádio Aquático Olímpico) was a temporary aquatics center in the Barra Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro. The venue hosted the Swimming at the 2016 Summer Olympics, swimming events, Synchronized swimming at t ...

. He has competed for Djibouti in swimming at other international competitions. Abro arrived at Rio later than the rest of the delegation and joined them there. Abro competed in the second heat and finished with a time of 27.13, placing 74th among 85 competitors. He needed a time of 22.10 to advance to the semifinals.

References

External links

* * {{Country at games navbox, Djibouti, Summer Olympics Nations at the 2016 Summer Olympics

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...

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