Rose Nathike Lokonyen (born 24 February 1995) is a

track and field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping eve ...

athlete from

South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the ...

, but who later lived and trained in

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi ...

Early life

Lokonyen was born in South Sudan. Her father is a soldier and she has four younger siblings. When she was 10, Lokonyen and her family fled on foot from soldiers in their village of

Chukudum Chukudum is a Town in Budi County of the Eastern Equatoria state of South Sudan. Location The town lies at the base of the Didinga Mountains, which are often shrouded in clouds, in spectacularly beautiful country. It is accessible only by a roug ...

. The family then crowded into the back of a truck and made their way to Kakuma refugee camp in northwest

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi ...

. Her parents left the Kakuma in 2008 but left Lokonyen and her siblings at the refugee camp. When she reached high school, while still living in the refugee camp, Lokonyen began running as a pastime.

Career

The

International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...

and Tegla Loroupe Foundation held races inside refugee camps as tryouts for possible participation in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Lokonyen first tried out, while running barefoot, at the 5,000 meter distance and won her race, allowing her advance to Ngong. She continued to train alongside other Olympic hopeful refugees in Ngong before being notified via a livestream from Geneva, Switzerland that she had been chosen to compete. She was coached by John Anzrah. She was selected by the

(IOC) to compete for the

Refugee Olympic Team The Refugee Olympic Team is a group made up of independent Olympic participants who are refugees. In March 2016, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach announced the creation of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team, as a s ...

in the women's 800 m at the 2016 Summer Olympics in

Rio de Janeiro 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 ...

, Brazil. The Refugee Olympic Team was the first in Olympic history. Lokonyen was one of five athletes on the refugee team born in South Sudan and was the team's

flag bearer A standard-bearer, also known as a flag-bearer is a person (soldier or civilian) who bears an emblem known as a standard or military colours, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used (and often honoured) as a f ...

at the opening ceremony. Nathinke finished seventh in her first round heat with a time of 2:16.64. She did not advance. She also competed in the 2020 Tokyo olympics. She trains with

Tegla Loroupe Tegla Chepkite Loroupe (born 9 December 1979) is a Kenyan long-distance track and road runner. She is also a global spokeswoman for peace, women's rights and education. Loroupe holds the world records for 25 and 30 kilometers and previously ...

, a Kenyan world record holding long-distance runner.

Competitions

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lokonyen, Rose 1995 births Living people Place of birth missing (living people) South Sudanese female middle-distance runners South Sudanese refugees Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics Refugee Olympic Team at the 2020 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics South Sudanese expatriate sportspeople in Kenya Athlete Refugee Team at the World Athletics Championships Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics Refugees in Kenya People from Eastern Equatoria