“Please do not do this now,” he said. I huddled close to my mother’s side. All across our church, parents chased their children, weeping and wailing. Lopez Lomong … Submit. Watch the 1500m Indoor Champs Final! Lopez Lomong's Olympic Games Story on Vimeo Join Tears ran down their faces. A chain of bullets hung across his chest. 11 talking about this. It's great being here."[17]. My eyes were closed in prayer when the trucks pulled up. I looked up and saw a giant man standing over me. “Please do not take our children,” they begged. He won the race in a personal best time of 3:51.21, just ahead of Matthew Centrowitz, a decorated 1500m man. It’s for this reason that I’m turning up the heat on awareness and positive engagement efforts in South Sudan, creating sustainable hope for the young ones who deserve life in all its fullness. BEIJING — “I hope you guys will take my life story,” Lopez Lomong told the media Friday morning, “to learn something out of it.” The question wasn’t what was the… Lopez Lomong was born in Kimotong, a small village in southern Sudan in 1985 to Awei Lomong and Rita Namana. Lomong finished 18th in the 1500 meters on March 7, 2014 at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships. In 2007, Lomong was the division I NCAA indoor champion at 3000 meters and the outdoor champion at 1500 meters while competing for Northern Arizona. Basic Information. A green canopy covered the top and sides of the truck bed so I could not see out. London Olympics Our priest tried to reason with them. This is a detailed memoir of Lopez Lomong (Joseph) - a lost boy who escaped from the rebels in Sudan and fought his way to freedom. (©World Vision). His village was attacked while he was attending church, and Lopez was taken by rebel soldiers from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. From a sordid, Sudanese prison camp to the ornate pavilions of the 2008 Summer Olympic games in Beijing, one thread runs through his story: running was his path to success. But I had never seen a soldier until this bright, summer Sunday, and I had never expected to see soldiers invade a church service. OT: The 1920, 1928, 1932, 1992, 1996 & 2000 championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event. My story is not my own - it's the story of thousands of children who are still victims to the evil of war. He is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. [10], Lomong was a victim of the Second Sudanese Civil War. They were not alone. Today’s post is the first in a series that recounts the life story of Lopez Lomong, who will run with Team USA in the London 2012 Olympics with dreams of bringing home a gold medal. He was 6 when he fled the war in his native Sudan. My mother pleaded with him: “No, no, no! [32], In June, Lomong finished 6th in 13:53.64 in 5000 meter at USATF Outdoor Championships hosted at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon. August 2019 by David Woods ... That is not Lomong’s story. “Please, please, we will do anything you ask — just do not do this.”, One especially giant soldier swung back around toward our crying parents. [17], Lopez is a member of Team Darfur. I would soon. Born in war-torn South Sudan, Lopez was kidnapped by rebel soldiers at the age of 6 with two foreseeable futures: being forced to kill as a child soldier or being killed himself. Now!” they shouted as they ran into the middle of my congregation. Get the Full Story for Free. Lopez Lomong: A Story of Success Lopez Lomong did incredible things. Lopez Lomong. Forced by circumstances to run as a child, Lopez Lomong never stopped, even after arriving on the biggest stage in the world. Lopez Lomong: We're all destined to use our talent to change people's lives (What Really Matters): Eulate, Ana: Amazon.com.tr. Lopez Lomong has traveled a long way in his life. [13], Lomong qualified for the US Olympic Team on July 6, 2008, one year after gaining his US citizenship. My parents dropped to the ground, pulling me down with them. Join me in running a race, buying a T-shirt, or giving a gift to benefit the people of South Sudan, creating real change in a land of endless possibility. It ends with his graduation from college in the U.S. after competing as an American citizen in the Seoul Olympic Games. His story to where he is today is a story of faith, hope, courage and tenacity. I invite you to follow this blog series and check out my website as I move toward London. He waved his gun in the air and screamed, “One more step closer and we will open fire!”. ... Lomong says he fully realizes his record-breaking accomplishments serve as a platform to share his story. That story starts in … Sign In. Lopez was abducted by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army while attending a church service when he was only six years old. Lopez Lomong: A Story of Success Lopez Lomong did incredible things. In … He is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Reflections from a Former Refugee . For more on my story, check out my new book, “Running For My Life.”, In 2020, 88% of World Vision's total operating expenses were used for programs that benefit children, families, and communities in need. Team: Bowerman Track Club Lopez Lomong, on July 10, 2020 at the Portland Intrasquad Meet II, set a 5000m personal record of 12:58.78 (8th American all-time) and finished second, and on July 31, 2020 at the Portland Intrasquad Meet IV, Lopez and his BTC teammates (Evan Jager, Grant Fisher & Sean McGorty) shattered the American 4 x 1500m relay record of 14:40.80, clocking 14:34.97. Lopez Lomong was born Lopepe Lomong in a small village in South Sudan to Awei Lomong and Rita Namana. Lopez Lomong (born January 5, 1985)[3][4] is a South Sudanese-born American track and field athlete. He has traveled an amazing journey to get there. Athlete Info. The U.S. Olympic team captains said that Lomong deserved the honor of flagbearer because he was so proud of his citizenship. On August 8, 2012, Lomong placed 4th in his preliminary heat to qualify for the 5000m finals. I bounced off another boy and and landed on the hot, dirty, metal truck bed. The truck was full of children from my church. Lessons from Lopez - A blog from my World Vision Partners. He secured a slot for the 5000m finals after winning his preliminary heat in 13:42.81, just ahead of American record holder Bernard Lagat (13:42.83). Lomong is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Lopez Lomong was born Lopepe Lomong in Kimotong, an ethnic Buya village in Budi County, Namorunyang State, South Sudan to Awei Lomong and Rita Namana. Lomong was a victim of the Second Sudanese Civil War. The soldier did not reply. Lomong's autobiography, Running for My Life, was published in 2012, co-written with Mark Tabb. While his current life sounds like a dream come true, his childhood was more like a nightmare. “We’re taking the children!” he screamed. A Catholic, he was abducted at age six while attending Catholic Mass and assumed dead by his family and buried in absentia. Lopez Lomong chronicles his inspiring ascent from a barefoot lost boy of the Sudanese Civil War to a Nike-sponsored athlete on the US Olympic Team. I knew our country was at war. All around me people screamed and cried. "I'm an American. Part one of the series tells the story of this dark chapter of Lomong’s life. The Rogers have since gone on to help many other Sudanese refugees. On July 4, Lopez Lomong placed 5th in 28:59 at 2018 Peachtree Road Race. Don’t take my boy!”. With one hand, he yanked my mother’s arm off of me while picking me up with the other. Despite miscalculating his laps and thinking he had finished when he actually had one lap left, he set a 2012 World Leading time of 13:11.63. Please bear with us as we are currently updating athlete bios. Welcome to the new USATF.org! Lomong's time beat the previous Armory track record of 3:53.92 which had just been set in 2012 by Centrowitz as well as the Millrose record of 3:52.87 set by Bernard Lagat. Lopez Lomong knows what it's like to run for his life. I heard them before I saw them. [19] BEIJING -- By now, if you've paid attention at all, you will be up to speed on the story of Lopez Lomong, United States Olympic 1,500-meter runner and opening-ceremony flag-bearer. I did not know it at the time, but my childhood had just ended. In June, Lomong won the USATF Outdoor Championship in the 10,000 metres at Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Iowa.[35]. Special guest Lopez Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, shares his story of being captured by rebel soldiers, his daring escape, and his ultimate journey to the… Gender: Male. He hasn’t run in an Olympics or World Championships since ’13. Get inspiring articles and news delivered to your inbox. Lopez is a true role model." On April 29, 2012, Lomong raced his first ever 5000m at the Payton Jordan Invitational. From there, a … He was eliminated in the semifinals of the 1500 at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. [23], Lomong participated in the NYRR Men's Wanamaker Mile at the 2013 Millrose Games. Event: Agent: Thomas Ratcliffe. He finished first in the 5000 metres as well, becoming the first to double in the two national championship events since 2012. Follow along as we hear from him on his abduction, being adopted into the United States, and the realization of his Olympic dreams through his new book, “Running For My Life.”. Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, came to the United States at the age of 16 and became a U.S. citizen in 2007. All donations are tax deductible in full or in part. [4], Lomong was chosen by the team captains of the US Olympic team to carry the US flag in the Opening Ceremony at the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony. [9][unreliable source?] "[15][16], After his success at the collegiate level, Lopez signed a contract with Nike and now competes professionally. [11] He first returned to his native village of Kimotong in December 2006. In 2007, Lomong was reunited with his parents in Sudan, where he also met his younger brothers Peter and Alex, born after he was taken by rebel soldiers. US Olympian, Lost Boy from Sudan, US Olympic 2008 Flag Bearer, 2012 Olympian, Nike sponsored, World Since his selection as flagbearer he has been careful not to criticize China directly, choosing instead to focus on the inspirational side of his story. He was resettled in the United States in 2001 through the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program with Robert and Barbara Rogers, in New York State. [11] Lomong spent ten years in the Kakuma refugee camp in Turkana County, northeastern Kenya before being moved to the United States through the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program by Toomey Residential and Community Services. Let’s go!” he yelled. Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, giving a gift to benefit the people of South Sudan. Suddenly the tailgate slammed shut and the truck lurched forward. When I looked up, I saw soldiers pouring out of the backs of the trucks. Lomong attended Tully High School in Tully, NY, entering at a 10th grade level. It is the best book I have read in 2019, and is something I would definitely read again. About once a month, my mother and father grabbed me and and my brothers and sister and ran for shelter as bombs fell in the distance from airplanes that flew far overhead. *Distances have varied as follows: Mile (1940–2002) and 1932, 2007 and odd numbered years since 2011, 1500 meters (1933–1939), (2003–6, 2008–2010) and even numbered years since 2010, USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 2008 Summer Olympics national flag bearers, "Former 'Lost Boy' Olympic runner Lopez Lomong training in Oregon", "I came all the way here, so I have to run", "U.S. flagbearer Lomong has unbelievable story of personal triumph - Tim Layden - SI.com", USA Track and Field – Features, Events, Results | Team USA, Learning to love running, NAU's Peter Lomong makes a name for himself, "U.S. Olympian Lopez Lomong's great escape", "Lomong chosen as US flagbearer at Beijing Games", "From African refugee camp to Olympic start line", "US flagbearer Lomong dodges political questions", 'Incredible' Race: America's Lopez Lomong Sets 2012 World Best On First Try [VIDEO] : The Two-Way, London 2012 5000m men – Olympic Athletics, "Lopez Lomong: From war child to U.S. Olympics star - CNN.com", 106th Millrose Games – Branch Sports Technology, USA Indoor Track & Field Championships – 2/21/2014 to 2/23/2014 Albuquerque Convention Center, 1500 Metres Summary | IAAF World Indoor Championships 2014, 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 1500 metres, 2014 USA Track & Field Championships – 6/25/2014 to 6/29/2014 Hornet Stadium – Sacramento, California, Excellence, Sacrifice, Dedication – Lopez's Blog, NACAC 2015 Senior Championships – 8/7/2015 to 8/9/2015 San Jose, Costa Rica, 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, "2018 Sir Walter Miler - 8/3/2018 Meredith College", United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, US National Championship winners in Men's 5000 m, 2 miles or 3 miles, 2008 United States Olympic Trials (track and field), 2012 United States Olympic Trials (track and field), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lopez_Lomong&oldid=991118391, South Sudanese male middle-distance runners, South Sudanese emigrants to the United States, American people of South Sudanese descent, Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Olympic track and field athletes of the United States, Northern Arizona Lumberjacks men's track and field athletes, USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners, USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners, Pages using Infobox sportsperson with unknown parameters, Articles lacking reliable references from September 2015, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 28 November 2020, at 10:25. Lopez Lomong was born Lopepe Lomong in Kimotong, an ethnic Buya village in Budi County, Namorunyang State, South Sudan to Awei Lomong and Rita Namana. [18] Lomong continued his success at the 2012 US Olympic Track & Field Trials. "I'm here to compete for my country," Lomong told reporters when they asked questions about human rights. “Hurry up! He was inspired to become a runner after watching Michael Johnson at the 2000 Summer Olympics on television.[11]. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States on July 6, 2007. Lomong was a victim of the Second Sudanese Civil War. They appeared nervous, as though they wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible. [5] Following in the footsteps of their elder brother Lopez, Peter Lomong now runs for Northern Arizona University, while Alex Lomong runs for Ohio State University. [5], Lomong qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 1500 meters at the United States Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon. Although he originally assumed his parents had been killed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army, he was reunited with his mother and family, who now live outside Nairobi, in 2003. [19] In the finals, he placed 3rd behind winner Galen Rupp and runner up Bernard Lagat to secure a spot on his second Olympic team. [37], Lomong running 1500 m at the US Olympic Team Trials in 2008, Note 1: In 1888 both the NAAAA and the AAU held championships. [20][21] In the final, which took place on August 11, 2012, he finished in 10th place. Lopez Lomong, a former track and cross-country star at Tully High School, has reached the Olympics. [24] [27][28], Lopez finished 3rd running 3:39.11[29][30] at USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California on June 28. © 2021 World Vision, Inc. All rights reserved. My thoughts are never far away from those other boys and girls who, for no fault of their own, will never know the carefree celebration of life that should be the right of every child. The leader of the soldiers ignored him. [12] In early 2009 he traveled back to bring his younger brothers, Alex and Peter, back to the United States to attend school at Fork Union Military Academy. No one expected 34-year-old Lopez Lomong to sweep the 10k and 5k titles at this year’s USATF Outdoor Championships—least of … [11] He returned to Sudan again in 2008 with an organization called Sudan Sunrise to begin construction of the Lopez Lomong School and Reconciliation Church. We are proud to be reviewed and held accountable by these independent third-party organizations: World Vision Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Lopez Lomong is a 2X Olympian and just ran a new 5K PR at the age of 35 at a Bowerman Track Club Intersquad meet. [6] He was the flag bearer for the United States during the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony.[7][8]. In June 2010, Lomong repeated as men's champion by winning the 1500 at the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships in a highly tactical race. At six years old, Lomong was kidnapped and recruited to be a boy soldier in the country’s brutal civil war, living in terrible conditions along with dozens of other “Lost Boys of Sudan.” While his current life sounds like a dream come true, his childhood was more like a nightmare. I could not see what happened next. Lopez Lomong is a former "Lost Boy" from Sudan who now runs for Team USA Lomong spent 10 years of his life in a refugee camp in Kenya He was relocated in the United States as a … Though most of us fall somewhere between the catastrophic lows and dizzying highs of Lomong’s incredible life, every listener will find in his story the human spark to pursue dreams that might seem unthinkable, even from circumstances that might … Lopez Lomong, a U.S. Olympic athlete, was ripped away from his parents by rebel soldiers at the age of 6 in South Sudan. Çerez Tercihlerinizi Seçin. Later in the summer of 2010, Lomong lowered his personal best at 1500 meters down to 3:32.20 at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco. [14] "Now I'm not just one of the 'Lost Boys,'" he told reporters. All around me, other soldiers herded boys and girls and teenagers toward the trucks while yelling for everyone to speed up. [22] Lomong was part of a strong American performance, with fellow countrymen Bernard Lagat and Galen Rupp placing 4th and 7th, respectively. He is currently a member of Team Darfur, a group of athletes urging China to exert pressure on the Sudanese government to address the War in Darfur. STORY - This is a true story which begins with the kidnapping of a six-year-old boy (Lopez Lomong) from his family's church in Sudan. Lopez Lomong, training for the 1,5000 meters in China ahead of the Olympics, is a symbol for so many issues hovering over the Games. Get inspiration in your inbox!Join a community of change makers. His own childhood — being abducted at age 6, fleeing across Sudan with other "Lost Boys" and spending 10 years as an "orphan" in a Kenyan refugee camp before coming to the United States — has given him a passion for improving the lives of women, children, and families in Sudan and … The soldiers continued running and shouting. Help Two-Time U.S. Olympian, American Flag Bearer, and Lost Boy of Sudan bring resources, hope, and … Follow Me. To continue reading this story, and discover more like it, create your free account. The four of them ran for three days until they crossed the border into Kenya. Lomong won the 1500 metres in 3:43.09[26] at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico. Lomong's actual birthdate is January 5, 1985, but like all Lost Boys who came to the United States without paperwork, his official birthday is listed as January 1. After his kidnapping, Lopez was taken to a camp where boys were forced to become rebel soldiers, killing other people, or dying themselves. Credit... Andy Wong/Associated Press Sharing my story is my passion and I would love … His name "Lopez" was a nickname from the refugee camp that he later adopted officially. Lopez Lomong and his family belong to the Buya (also spelled Boya) ethnic group of southeastern South Sudan, who speak the Laarim language.
My Dog Has Dry Balls,
The Lego Movie Streaming,
Western Digital New Products,
One Of These Nights,
Whio Radio Live Stream,
The Dance Of Life Song,
I'll Be Your Sister,
Seven Lakes Country Club Fort Myers,
Klonoa 2 Pal Iso,
Highest In The Room,
La Playa Dc,
Kevin Peter Hall Death,