Abdi Nageeye will represent the Netherlands at the 2016 Olympic Games Marathon. He says he is looking forward to Boston, because “racing without pacesetters is so exciting and it’s like running a championship race.” He is most proud of his 2015 Amsterdam Marathon race where he set his 2:10:24 personal best and qualified for his country’s Olympic team. He also set his half marathon best last year, running a 1:02:40 at the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon, and he secured his third national title in the 10K in Schoorl.

Nageeye immigrated to the Netherlands from Somalia when he was six years old. When he joined a soccer club, he realized he had a talent for running and started competing nationally and internationally.
“I just started running in late 2007, so everyone is really excited to see me so quick on top in the country’s athletics. I’m also pretty popular in the Dutch media, because of my accomplishments combined with my background. Most of the time, the media describe me as a good example of a successfully integrated immigrant who is giving something back to his new homeland.” In preparation for Boston, Nageeye is training in Kaptagat, Kenya. Nageeye says he must read or watch the world news every day and enjoys listening to jazz and blues music.

“Running the Boston Marathon has been a dream of mine since I moved to the marathon, and I will go for top three in this year’s race.”