Comoros at the 2008 Summer Olympics

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Comoros at the
2008 Summer Olympics
IOC codeCOM
NOCComité Olympique et Sportif des Iles Comores
in Beijing
Competitors3 in 2 sports
Flag bearer Feta Ahamada
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Comoros took part in the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, China from 8 to 24 August 2008.[1] It was Comoros's fourth appearance in the summer Olympics since its debut in 1996.[2] The Comoros team included three athletes: runners Mhadjou Youssouf and Feta Ahamada, and swimmer Mohamed Attoumane.[3] Ahamada, a 100 metres sprinter, was the flag bearer for the opening ceremony,[4] the first woman to be given the honour.[2] None of the Comoros athletes progressed further than the qualifying heats.[5][6]

Background[edit]

Comoros had participated in the three previous Summer Olympics, debuting in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.[2] At their debut, the country sent four athletes to the games, all of whom competed in athletics;[7] it remains their largest delegation as of 2014.[2] No Comorian athlete has ever won a medal at an Olympic Games.[2]

Three athletes from Comoros were selected to compete in the 2008 Olympics: Mhadjou Youssouf in the men's track and field 100 metres, Feta Ahamada in the women's track and field 100 metres and Mohamed Attoumane in the men's 50 metre freestyle swimming.[5][6]

Athletics[edit]

The Beijing National Stadium, where Youssouf and Ahamada competed in their respective events

At the 2008 Olympics, Comoros was represented by one male athlete in athletics,[6] sprinter Mhadjou Youssouf.[6] At age 18, Youssouf was the country's youngest competitor,[3] and was competing at his first Olympics.[8] He competed in the 100 metres on 15 August in Beijing,[9] and finished 6th out of 8 in heat five.[9] His time of 10.62 seconds was a personal best,[9] which, as of October 2014, is still his personal best.[10] Overall, Youssouf finished 55th out of 80 competitors.[11] The fastest athlete was Tyrone Edgar (10.13 seconds) and the slowest athlete that progressed to the quarterfinals was Uchenna Emedolu (10.46 seconds).[11] Youssouf, who was 0.16 seconds behind Emedolu, did not progress to the quarterfinals.[11]

Competing at her first Olympics,[12] Feta Ahamada was the only woman competing in the track and field events at the 2008 Summer Olympics for the Comoros.[3] She competed in the 100 metre event on 19 August.[13] Ahamada, drawn into heat seven for the event, ran a time of 11.88 seconds and finished sixth in her heat, 0.55 seconds behind the winner, Ivet Lalova.[13] She finished 52nd out of 85 athletes overall and was 2.92 seconds faster than the slowest athlete, Robina Muqimyar.[14] Ahamada was 0.75 seconds behind the fastest athlete (Oludamola Osayomi) and 0.23 seconds behind the slowest athlete who progressed to the quarterfinals, Thi Huong Vu.[14] Therefore, Ahamada did not progress to the quarterfinals.[14]

Track
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Mhadjou Youssouf Men's 100 m 10.62 6 did not advance
Feta Ahamada Women's 100 m 11.88 6 did not advance

Swimming[edit]

The Beijing National Aquatics Center is where Attoumane competed in their events.

Mohamed Attoumane represented Comoros as its only swimmer competing in the Beijing Olympics.[3] The oldest Comorian at the games, Attoumane, took part in the men's 50 metre freestyle race.[15] He was born in September 1981, and was 26 years old when he appeared for his races.[15] Attoumane had not previously competed at any Olympic games.[15] Attoumane competed in heat six of the preliminaries on 14 August.[16] He finished last in his eight-man heat in a time of 29.63 seconds, 5.63 seconds behind the heat winner, Yellow Yeiyah.[16] Out of the ninety-seven swimmers competing in the event, Attoumane finished 91st.[16] He was 8.17 seconds behind the fastest athlete, Amaury Leveaux, and was 7.46 seconds behind the slowest athlete that progressed to the semi-finals, Gideon Louw.[16]

Men
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Mohamed Attoumane 50 m freestyle 29.63 91 did not advance

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Countries Participating in Olympics". Sporting99.com. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Sports Reference – Countries – Comoros". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Comoros". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  4. ^ "List of flagbearers Bejing [sic] 2008" (PDF). olympic.org. 8 August 2008. p. 1. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Comoros – Swimming". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Comoros – Athletics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Sports Reference – Atlanta 1996 – Comoros". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Sports Reference – Olympics – Athletes – Comoros – Mhadjou Youssouf". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  9. ^ a b c "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2008 – 100 metres – Men – Heats – Result". IAAF. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  10. ^ "IAAF – Athletes – Comoros – Mhadjou Youssouf". Mhadjou Youssouf. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  11. ^ a b c "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2008 – 100 metres – Men – Heats – Summary". IAAF. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Sports Reference – Olympics – Athletes – Comoros – Ahamada Feta". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  13. ^ a b "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2008 – Women – 100 meters – Heats – Results". IAAF. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  14. ^ a b c "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2008 – Women – 100 meters – Heats – Summary". IAAF. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  15. ^ a b c "IAAF – Athletes – Comoros – Mohamed Attoumane". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  16. ^ a b c d "2008 Summer Olympics Results – Swimming – Men's 50 metres freestyle". ESPN.com. Retrieved 29 October 2014.