South Sudanese refugee to run Olympic marathon as an independent
South Sudanese refugee to run Olympic marathon as an independent US-based Guor Marial has won the right to compete as a stateless athlete after refusing to compete under Sudan's flag Share 113 Email David Smith , Johannesburg guardian.co.uk , Monday 23 July 2012 19.55 BST Jump to comments ( 10 ) Guor Marial runs along a street in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he now lives after escaping Sudan's civil war as a child. Photograph: Darryl Webb/REUTERS A refugee from Sudan 's civil war has won his battle to compete in the Olympic marathon as an independent runner without a country. US-based Guor Marial had turned down the chance to run for Sudan, could not represent America because he is not a full citizen and was unable to wear the colours of his first choice, South Sudan , because it is not sending a team to London. But the 28-year-old's late plea to enter as a stateless athlete under the Olympic flag has now been gr...