Afghan Female Olympian Missing

I know this is last week's news, but I'm just catching up to speed. I wanted to share this story with anyone who also maybe missed it last week or who is just interested in how it continues to develop. It saddens me when I realize that we still live in a world where not all female athletes are supported and encouraged to excel in sports and take pride in such accomplishments.

Mehboba Ahdyar, a 19-year-old track runner who competes in the 800 and 1,500 meters disappeared from the training center she was staying at last week. Her luggage and passport were gone and rumor has it that she is seeking asylum in Norway. She had been training on an International Olympic Committee (IOC) scholarship. The IOC scholarship program assists athletes from smaller, under -developed nations.

With the 2008 Summer Olympics less than a month away, it seems as though there is little hope of her participation this year. The Afghan Olympic body, Sayed Mahmoud Zia Dashti, said Ahdyar had suffered a leg injury and was receiving treatment in Italy. The linked article quotes Sayed Mahmoud Zia Dashti saying, "I can confirm that she has injured her leg and that she has will not participate in the Beijing Olympics and that her family in Italy is taking care of her,". However as of last week, no one had heard directly from Mehboba Ahdyar as to her where abouts.

This more recent article states that Mehboba Ahdyar has been in contact with her family she in formed them that she was seeking asylum because of fears for her life. She has received death threats on her mobile phone from Muslim extremists who object to a Muslim woman participating in sports. The article further reads that "...earlier this year, her neighbors called the police, claiming she was a prostitute -- a charge that landed her father in jail until the matter was cleared up."

And to add another twist, I found this article which states that her parents are "reportedly" under pressure from members of the Afghan Olympic Committee who are telling them that they risk being thrown in jail if Mehboba does not come back to participate in the games.

This sounds like an awful situation and my heart just breaks for this poor young girl and her family. Being able to represent your country in the Olympics should be a joyous event for everyone, but this is clearly not a joyous experience for Mehboba and her famly.

So you won't be an Olympian

Here's the e-mail Kathryn Bertine sent her supporters today:

My Dear Friends and Readers,

While I do not want to give away the ending of the article, I will say this: I am preparing to represent St.Kitts and Nevis at the World Championships in Varese, Italy this September. Tnities. ESPN thought this E-ticket series might make an interesting article or two. Not thirteen...and maybe more. I hawo years ago, when I started this Olympic quest, I never would have guessed my life would see such incredible opportuve not one regret, one inkling of disappointment.

www.espn.com (Just click on E-ticket or put my name in the search engine)

I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you who wrote to me, for all of you who cheered me on, and even to those who didn't...you motivated me in equal measure. The kindness and encouragement of strangers was more than I ever imagined. Coming home from a long day of training or a difficult race, it was truly a gift to turn on my computer and have supportive emails pour in from all over the world. Now and then there were some not-so-supportive emails, but the random marriage proposals definitely made up for it! :) Thanks, guys. You're awesome.

In addition to racing, I'll be working on the manuscript of this book for the next six months, which ESPN/Random House will publish in March 2009. At the moment the working title is So You Wanna Be an Olympian? but it will change when we think of something better. Any ideas are welcome. If my editor uses your suggestion, I'll give you more Sport Beans than you could ever digest. :)

Also, a lot of you have written to inquire about St. Kitts and Nevis...

I will be doing The Nevis Independence Day Cycling Road Race on September 6-7. www.neviscycleclub.com There are two events; a 60 mi Road Race and a 20K two person Team Time Trial. If you would like to come down to wonderful Nevis and partake in the race (or just have a super vacation), please let me know. Winston and I are planning to put on a cycling clinic/camp, beginners to experts welcome. This is one of my chances to "give back" and I am so excited to help the SKN cycling federation grow. If you are interested in ordering a SKN Cycling Federation team kit and/or tee shirt, we're getting ready to take orders...all proceeds to benefit the SKNCF. Will keep you posted! Please forward to your favorite cyclists and tropical island enthusiasts.

Have a wonderful summer and thank you again for all your kindness and support. See you in London 2012. ;)

March forth,

Kathryn

KB's 2008 Race Calendar

Fitchburg Longsjo Classic: July 3-6 Fitchburg, MA

Various Arizona races: August Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff

US 100K Classic: September 1 Atlanta, GA

Nevis Independence Day Road Race: September 6-7 Nevis, West Indies

World Cycling Championships: September 24-27 Varese, Italy

Looks like she will not be representing St. Kitts and Nevis in Beijing, but making the team to represent then in the World Championships isn't half bad. Either way, I think her story lasted longer than most people thought it would, which is fantastic.

PS: In Olympic track and Field news, did anyone see Marshevet Hooker fall over the finish line of the Women's 200m finals yesterday? Unbelieveable! Just shows how anything can happen. You can be as prepared as ever but there are so many other uncontrolable factors. At least in Marshevet's case, fate worked in her favor.

"So you wanna be an Olympian?" - Follow up

It's been three months (almost) since I last blogged about Kathryn Bertine, the ESPN writer who is on a cut throat quest for a 2008 Olympic berth. In Kathryn Bertine's current installment, chapter 12, she goes on a mission in both China and Venezuela to fight for a few highly coveted Olympic points. She continues to have her fair share of ups and downs , but still has not lost her determination to represent St. Kitts and Nevis as an Olympic athlete this summer in Beijing.

If you're interested in writing to Kathryn, rumor has it that she's very good at responding to e-mail. Here's where you can send your thoughts, questions or motivational tidbits: ESPNOlympian@aol.com

The Women's Olympic Marathon Trials

Here's a little more info on the Women's Olympic Trials from an Active. com article, Boston to Beijing: The 2008 Women's Olympic Marathon Trials .

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I was shocked to read that Joan Samuelson is scheduled to run this year. I mean 50yrs old and she's still got it!! ... and predicted to turn out quite a solid performace to boot! Simply amazing!!

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I'm still not sure if I'll be able to swing the trip up in two weeks, but I'm trying to figure out a way to make it happen!

"So You Wanna Be An Olympian?" - Thoughts?

The picture posted above is from the latest installment of ESPN's e-ticket coverage of "Olympic Hopeful", Kathryn Bertine. Kathryn Bertine a former ice skater, professional triathlete and author was approached by ESPN and asked to give two years of her life to pursing her dream of qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. The latest article is the ninth installment focusing on Kathryn's self reported progress since the story began in August 2006. As the first article back in August '06 states,

"For the next two years, Bertine will chronicle her Olympic quest for E-ticket. While finding a spot on the 2008 U.S. team is the ultimate goal, Bertine will take every opportunity along the way to stop and smell the sweat socks ... and to share the smell, taste, sound and feel of the experience with you. You'll meet coaches, teammates, competitors, good guys, bad guys, people who will make you laugh, make you cry, make you cover your eyes in horror. You'll find out what the day-to-day life of an elite athlete is like, get a feel for the kind of sacrifices necessary, see for yourself what kind of politics is involved. "

It's an interesting and controversial story of a "regular" athlete turned "elite" cyclist (in 18mths) who wants to get to the Beijing Olympics at any cost, meaning, in any sport (although she's chosen cycling), and as a representative of any country. Yes, any country!! In this latest installment, Kathryn, after failing to make the U.S. Olympic Team is now searching for "athletic adoption" and seems to have secured hopeful interest by St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. ...And she's now off to attempt to receive dual citizenship there.

I'm not certain if anyone out there has been following this story, but I have a hunch that a few of you have. I think Kathryn's progress over the past (almost) two years is interesting and she's had quite a few fascinating revelations and memorable experiences along the way. I particularly like this quote from Kathryn in this latest (9th) article, " But I now understand that the purpose of human existence is to ask questions, no matter how outlandish, and seek answers, no matter how much the odds are against you. Ask, ask, ask. And when you can't find the answers to life, check your spam box. Hope hides in the strangest of places."

Although I admire her dedication and resilience, I'm not sure what I think about this whole project. And to be honest, I'm jumping into this a bit late and I haven't had a chance to read the entire story. But I'd love to hear some thoughts on this story and Kathryn's overall "progress" at this point. Do you think this is a good idea? What are the pro's and con's if she does end up competing for St. Kitts and Nevis in the 2008 Olympics? What will this prove if anything if she makes it to the Olympics?