South Sudan at the 2016 Summer Olympics

South Sudan took part in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to 21. Although South Sudan became independent in 2011, it was not able to join the International Olympic Committee until 2015. This was the country's very first time competing in the Olympic Games.

The country was allowed to send three athletes to the Games in track and field events. Two men and one woman competed, but they did not win any medals. The woman, Margret Rumat Hassan, was chosen just eight days before the Games started. She had appeared in an advertisement for Samsung, which may have influenced her selection.

Guor Marial, a marathon runner, carried the flag for South Sudan during both the opening and closing ceremonies. In 2012, he had competed as an Independent Olympic Athlete because he could not represent South Sudan at that time. Additionally, five South Sudanese athletes competed as part of the Refugee Olympic Team.

Background

South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011, but a civil war made it hard for the country to join the International Olympic Committee. A South Sudanese runner, Guor Marial, competed in the 2012 Olympics as an Independent Olympic Athlete because he did not want to represent Sudan. South Sudan officially joined the International Olympic Committee in August 2015, becoming its 206th member. Marial was chosen to carry South Sudan’s flag during the opening and closing ceremonies.

In addition to South Sudan’s team, five members of the Refugee Olympic Team were from South Sudan. They were living in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya after fleeing conflict in their home country. Rose Lokonyen from this group carried the Refugee Olympic Team’s flag during the opening ceremony.

Athletics (track and field)

Main articles: Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics and Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Qualification

South Sudan had three spots to send athletes to the track and field events at the 2016 Summer Olympics, even though none of their athletes met the usual standards to qualify. The South Sudan Athletics Federation chose Marial, Santino Kenyi, and Mangar Makur Chuot to compete. But just before the Games started, Chuot was removed from the team. He was replaced by Margret Hassan, who then competed in the women's 200 m race. She finished last in her heat.

Kenyi ran the men's 1500 m race and did not move on to the next round. Marial, who had also competed in the Olympics before, ran the men's marathon and finished near the end of the race.