Raed Ahmed: Difference between revisions
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Ahmed fled from the Olympic Village, which was located at Georgia Tech, while his minders were preparing for a visit to the zoo.<ref name="tribune"/><ref name="palmbeach">{{cite news |title=Iraqi says life rides on defection attempt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86271051/the-palm-beach-post/ |access-date=1 October 2021 |work=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=2 August 1996}}</ref> Prior to his escape, he had arranged to meet a student at the university who had facilitated his getaway.<ref name="tribune"/> He was brought to Decatur and subsequently met with agents from the Immigration and Naturalization Service to claim asylum.<ref name="palmbeach"/> |
Ahmed fled from the Olympic Village, which was located at Georgia Tech, while his minders were preparing for a visit to the zoo.<ref name="tribune"/><ref name="palmbeach">{{cite news |title=Iraqi says life rides on defection attempt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86271051/the-palm-beach-post/ |access-date=1 October 2021 |work=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=2 August 1996}}</ref> Prior to his escape, he had arranged to meet a student at the university who had facilitated his getaway.<ref name="tribune"/> He was brought to Decatur and subsequently met with agents from the Immigration and Naturalization Service to claim asylum.<ref name="palmbeach"/> |
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In a subsequent press conference at Emory University, Ahmed stated that he would be executed if he returned to Iraq.<ref name="palmbeach"/> Ahmed was called a "candle burning for Iraq" by a Kuwaiti journalist recognizing his "act of sacrifice".<ref name="constitution"/> Reflecting on his role as the flagbearer, he said that the flag is the "flag of the people, not the government."<ref name="constitution"/> He stated that if the asylum application were approved, he would continue weightlifting and bring his wife to the United States.<ref name="palmbeach"/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 01:26, 1 October 2021
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Iraq United States |
| Born | 5 June 1967 |
| Weight | 98 kg (216 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Weightlifting |
Raed Ahmed (born 5 June 1967) is an Iraqi American weightlifter. He competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics for Iraq[1] where he was the flagbearer during the opening ceremony.[2] Ahmed defected to the United States after his competition was over.[2]
Early life
Ahmed was born in Basra, Iraq.[2] He attended college and has a degree. He lived in southern Iraq prior to the Olympics.[3]
1996 Olympics
At the Parade of Nations on 19 July 1996,[4] Ahmed was the flagbearer for Iraq.[2] In his event, he finished in 23rd place,[5] which was third from the bottom.[2]
Ahmed fled from the Olympic Village, which was located at Georgia Tech, while his minders were preparing for a visit to the zoo.[5][6] Prior to his escape, he had arranged to meet a student at the university who had facilitated his getaway.[5] He was brought to Decatur and subsequently met with agents from the Immigration and Naturalization Service to claim asylum.[6]
In a subsequent press conference at Emory University, Ahmed stated that he would be executed if he returned to Iraq.[6] Ahmed was called a "candle burning for Iraq" by a Kuwaiti journalist recognizing his "act of sacrifice".[3] Reflecting on his role as the flagbearer, he said that the flag is the "flag of the people, not the government."[3] He stated that if the asylum application were approved, he would continue weightlifting and bring his wife to the United States.[6]
References
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Raed Ahmed Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Wright, George (8 July 2021). "The daring escape sparked by one forbidden glance". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ a b c Kindred, Dave (2 August 1996). "Defector rejecting Saddam, not Iraq". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ "Back in the USA". The Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette. 20 July 1996. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Franklin, Tim (2 August 1996). "Tyranny prompts defection". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Iraqi says life rides on defection attempt". The Palm Beach Post. 2 August 1996. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
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