by Ben David

August 8, 2024

The Olympic games have been celebrated for millennia with the widespread belief that these athletes, through their competition, represent much of what humanity celebrates as its pinnacle achievements. Chiefly held among these are the values of perseverance, ambition, and determination. Throughout the history of the games, its most celebrated athletes and moments have featured the overcoming of adversity, and the ensuing euphoric immortality. In particular, one group of athletes exemplifies this resilience that has come to be synonymous with the Olympics and the broader world of competitive sport, and that is migrant athletes. 

There is a rich history of athletes representing their adopted homelands in international sport, with big names among the list including Hakeem Olajuwon in basketball and Martina Navratilova in tennis. The circumstances surrounding each migrant athlete’s choice in representation are often varied and complex, and in this, they represent the many who have layered identities relating to the concept of nationality. 

When people think of the migrant athlete they should think about runner Bernard Lagat from Kenya, a country that has been plagued by political and ethnic violence for the past few decades. After becoming an American citizen in 2004, he proudly represented this nation, despite having enjoyed an illustrious career representing his native African country previously. After leaving Kenya, he continued to run well under the American flag, running in 3 different games after his switch in national identity.

Another example is that of runner Leonard Korir, who upon his immigration from Kenya in 2009, only carried one suitcase and a limited number of English phrases. Through his running, he was able to have a successful college career at Iona, before serving his adopted homeland in the Army. This ultimate expression of allegiance allowed him to acquire his citizenship in 2016 and represent the United States in the Rio Games. Now, at the age of 37, he has again qualified, running in his second Olympiad for his new homeland.

Another runner with an inspirational path to the games is Weini Kelati who sought refuge after she fled from Eretria. Initially journeying to the United States to compete in a junior championship meet, she intentionally missed her return flight and was granted asylum. Now, a naturalized US citizen, she is competing in her first Olympic Games as an American. 

Joel Embiid, who despite his ties to Cameroon and France has elected to represent the United States, explaining how he had immigrated to pursue professional basketball as a teenager, and came to feel truly American as he made a life and a career here. Embiid is now an NBA MVP, Olympian and global ambassador for the game, particularly in his native Africa through the NBA Africa program. Through this program he is able to display his pride for both his adoptive homeland and his birth nation. He is a shining example of how the label of nationality can be multifaceted and nuanced as opposed to binary and restrictive, and to how athletes can be an example for many groups at once.

These athletes’ commitment to the competitive ideals of the Olympics, proudly representing their adopted homelands without forgetting where they started, is inspiring. In addition, there are some migrants who have left their home countries but don’t have a current nation to call their own. These athletes are currently competing for the IOC Refugee Team. First established in 2016, the refugee team was created to ensure that deserving athletes who were unable to compete for their birth nation would not be denied the chance to participate in the games. I urge you to familiarize yourself with these names and other athletes who have endured the added burden of having to leave behind their roots and reestablish themselves in a foreign land. To be better able to appreciate and support these migrant athletes in the ongoing Paris games, here is the roster of athletes competing for the IOC Refugee Team:

https://apnews.com/article/paris-olympic-games-2024-refugee-team-athletes-d5b89c3faad09493d7babbb70c69863e

Best of luck to these inspiring competitors, and to everyone out there watching and feeling inspired by their accomplishments, please continue to cheer them on and enjoy the games!