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L'Orient-Le Jour
4 days ago
- Sport
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Lebanese sprinter Marc-Anthony Ibrahim breaks national 400-meter hurdles record
Sprinter Marc-Anthony Ibrahim, 22, broke the national record for the 400-meter hurdles on Saturday at the IFAM Putpost Stadium in Oordegem, Brussels, Belgium, with a time of 48.95 seconds. This earned him the highest score ever recorded by a Lebanese athlete in the World Athletics (the international athletics federation) world rankings, with 1,183 points. "He is making history once again," said Lebanese athlete Aziza Sbaity on her Instagram account. Living in Hadath, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Ibrahim began competing professionally in 2021. That year, he posted a score of 54.91 seconds on the same circuit. "This improvement of exactly six seconds in four years is significant," he stated. "Between the economic crisis, the pandemic, and the recent war [between Hezbollah and Israel], with bombings occurring just 500 meters from my home, I am proud to be able to be competitive on a global scale." Toward the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo Ibrahim said that he participated in this race in Belgium "without a sponsor": "My club, Let's Run, funds races in Lebanon, and struggles to do so abroad, even though it has managed on occasion." His expenses, which he estimates at "between $200 and $300" for the plane ticket and five days of accommodation in Brussels, were completely paid for "by a friend." "In Lebanon, we do not have the chance to participate in high-level tournaments because we lack the connections to do so, and athletics has no exposure in the country. This is a real problem for taking part in international tournaments," he said. In Lebanon, the young athlete trains at three stadiums in the capital: at Antonine University, whose track is 300 meters, not 400, at the American University of Beirut and at the City Sports Center. The athlete's next goal: the World Athletics Championships, which will take place from Sept. 13 to 21 in Tokyo. To do this, he must be among the top 40 runners in the 400-meter hurdles in the World Athletics world rankings, which are evaluated based on a points system awarded according to athletes' performances and the level of the tournament that will be reviewed "in two weeks." His latest performance has not yet been factored into the world rankings, where he is currently in 67th place. "I should be in the top 50 right now. Last year, I couldn't participate in the Olympic Games because I was 47th. I hope I can qualify this time!" he stated.
Fox News
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Shelby Houlihan, former US Olympic runner, back on podium 4 years after tainted burrito controversy led to ban
Shelby Houlihan, an American Olympic runner who competed at the 2016 Rio Games and later faced a hotly debated four-year ban, was back on the podium on Saturday. Houlihan won a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in the 3,000-meter event in Nanjing, China. She was unable to compete in the Tokyo Olympics and the Paris Olympics because she tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Houlihan claimed at the time the positive test was a result of a tainted pork burrito she bought from a Mexican food truck. "It's been a long journey," she told Let's Run. "I'm excited for today and now, but also kind of grieving the past a bit. It's just been a real tough journey." Houlihan is the U.S. record holder at 1,500 meters and the former record holder in the 5,000-meter event. Her 2021 appeal of her ban was moved to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but was ultimately rejected. However, the case kicked off a debate in the sport and anti-doping world as the elements were similar to other "no fault" cases that resulted in little or no penalty. Houlihan's punishment ultimately cost her a trip to Paris for the Olympics and she now has to work twice as hard to get ready for a potential appearance in Los Angeles in 2028. "Getting used to completely trying to create a new normal," Houlihan said. "Running had been part of my life since I was 5, so who am I without this? I didn't know. (I felt) totally crumbled and trying to rebuild myself back up." The 32-year-old Iowa native said she hoped her success could lead to a sponsor. The world outdoor championships are set for September. "It got to a point where I was just like, 'I don't want to give up because I feel like I'll always wonder what could have been,'" she said. "And then I feel like I still have more to prove. I feel like the best is yet to come for myself and I wanted to see that through and not let someone else decide." Houlihan was eligible to compete again in January and made her return to the track last month at the Razorback Invitational in Arkansas. She won the indoor 3,000-meter race. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
