Somali Athlete Stuns Public With Her Slow Pace, Funny Finish At University Games' 100m Race In China

• Athlete Nasro Ali Abukar's dismal performance at the International University Sports Federation’s (FISU) Summer World University Games saw a Somali sports official suspended
• The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Somalia noted it suspended Khadijo Aden Dahir, the chairwoman of the Somali Athletics Federation
• Dahir was accused of nepotism, abuse of power, and defaming the war-torn country's name in the international arena

China - Nasro Ali Abukar may not have won any medals at the World University Games in China, but she certainly won the hearts of millions of fans online.

Somali Bolt

The Somali athlete finished last in the women’s 100m race, clocking a time of 21.81 seconds, more than twice as slow as the winner, Brazil’s Silva Mourao Gabriella (11.58).

Nasro left spectators at the World Universities Game in China in stitches with her unconventional approach to the 100m race.

According to CNN, Somali's sports ministry, in a letter to the Somali National Olympic Committee, suspended Khadijo Aden Dahir the chairwoman of the Somali Athletics Federation.

Mohamed Barre Mohamud, Somali Minster of Youth and Sports, said Nasro was not an athlete.

While her fellow competitors sprinted like lightning, Nasro seemed to be channeling her inner sloth, making her way down the track at a pace that would give a snail a run for its money.

Despite being outsprinted, Nasro remained undeterred, continuing her leisurely run that appeared as a stroll towards the finish line.

"Nasro Ali Abukar ran 100m in 22 seconds. Do you know how slow that is?" posed CNN journalist Larry Madowo on Twitter.

"We later found out the athlete is actually the niece of Somalia’s Head of Athletics Fed. No wonder - the Somali Govt is the most corrupt in the world," Tweeted award-winning journalist Jamal Osman.

The Association of Somalia Universities, in a statement, confirmed that it had not sent an athlete to represent the country in the event.

Social media reactions

@Maccoscyrus wrote:

"Mwendo wa kobe."

@YusuphCabdi wrote:

"Great PR for Somalia."

@Ubuntu__Bethu wrote:

"I suspect that they confused the events as they thought they were sending her to the Paralympic Games. Otherwise, it just doesn’t make sense."

@BigmanDarsil wrote:

"Maybe she is the daughter of the defence minister with her participation alone was compromised from the selection panel."

Omanyala set world-leading time in 100m

On Sunday, May 14, Africa's fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala set the world-leading time in the 100 meters race at the Kip Keino Classics held in Nairobi.

Omanyala, who has been making waves on the athletics scene, clocked an impressive 9.84 seconds to win at home.

He beat American Kenneth Bednarek (9.98) and Canadian Olympic 4x100m silver medalist Jerome Blake.