What it's like to be your country's only Olympian
There is no losing when you are the Olympian representing your country. Such is the case for sprinter Shaun Gill, who is Belize's only athlete sent by his country to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Gill competed in the 100-meter sprint in his second Olympics at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday. He announced his retirement from athletics after finishing sixth, but for Belizeans, he is still "the most famous man."
The thrill and pressure of being a solo Olympian
Gill told the BBC that as a result of his unexpected popularity, people in his village have been hounding him for his autograph. "I had a joke with one of my friends that I may need a security detail," the 31-year-old joked. As the only athlete from Belize, Gill had the honor of being his nation's default flagbearer during the opening ceremony. Gill now plans to focus on training future runners in Belize and his career as an engineer.
Gill at the Olympics
Resources for sports not as great: Gill
In an interview with CNA earlier, Gill shed light on how hard it is for athletes to make it to the Olympics. "Back home in terms of resources for sports, it's not as great or where it should be. But it's slowly getting there," he said. "That's the reason I had to do most of my training in America...Back home, it's not as good facilities, financing, coaching. I had to leave to get better coaching, a...better environment," he said.
Ali Idow Hassan: Somalia's lone representative
Somalian runner Ali Idow Hassan is another solo competitor. He came eight in the men's 800m race. Hassan, 26, told the BBC that he was "very happy" to be his country's sole envoy in Paris 2024, but confessed that there was a downside: "I feel very sad when I'm alone." Similarly, Romano Puntener from Liechtenstein is the sole competitor. Puntener represented Liechtenstein in mountain biking, finishing 28th in his Olympic debut.
Winzar Kakiouea: Nauru's sole representative
Winzar Kakiouea of Nauru is also the country's sole representative. He finished sixth in the men's 100-meter competition. Nauru is a tiny island country in the Pacific, northeast of Australia, with a population of roughly 10,000. "Our country is a small island. You can finish (travelling around) Nauru in 25 minutes...It's tough (for somebody from Nauru to make the Olympics) because in Nauru, we don't have a track," he told reporters.
