Palestine’s lone runner at the World Athletics Championships has a message for those back home
Palestinian athlete runs for hope at World Athletics Championships
- Palestinian athlete Mohammed Dwedar competed in the men's 800m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the sole Palestinian representative at the event.
- His participation occurred on the same day a UN commission of inquiry declared that genocide is occurring in Gaza, a finding Israel's foreign ministry rejected.
- In his heat, he came in nearly nine seconds behind the winner, Max Burgin, in a time of 1:53.63.
- Dwedar said he wanted to send a message to his fellow Palestinians: “Keep safe, keep going, trust in God, trust in your body. Keep dreaming.”
- He said he is motivated by memories of his late father, whose dream was for him to be a champion.