National team Refugee Olympic Team Event(s) 800 meters Height 1.57 m Coach Tegla Loroupe | Country South Sudan Coached by Tegla Loroupe Weight 50 kg | |
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Born 24 February 1995 (age 22) ( 1995-02-24 ) | ||
Kenya message from refugee camp for refugee olympian rose lokonyen
Rose Nathike Lokonyen (born 24 February 1995) is a track and field athlete originally from South Sudan, but now living and training in Kenya.
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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 from soldiers in their village of Chukudum on foot. The family then crowded into the back of a truck and made their way to Kakuma refugee camp in northwest Kenya. 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 hobby.
Career
The International Olympic Committee and Tegla Loroupe Foundation held races as try outs inside of refugee camps for possible participation in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Lokonyen first tried out at the 5,000 meter distance and won her race, while racing barefoot, allowing her advance to Ngong. She continued to train alongside other Olympic hopeful reugees in Ngong before being notified she was chosen to compete via a livestream from Geneva, Switzerland. She was coached by John Anzrah.
She was selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to compete for the Refugee Olympic Team in the women's 800 m at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Refugee Olympic Team was the first refugee team in Olympic history. Lokonyen was one five athletes on the team originally from South Sudan. She was the team's flag bearer at the opening ceremony. Nathinke finished seventh in her first round heat with a time of 2:16.64. She did not advance.
She trains with Tegla Loroupe, a Kenyan world record holding long-distance runner.
