SWEDISH TEAM

SWEDISH TEAM – MEDIA GUIDE. European Championships in Athletics – Barcelona 2010.
RIZAK Abdi DIRSHE
Pronounciation REE-zuck DIRR-she
Born
5 January 1972 (Mogadishu, SOM)
Residence Malmö
Occupation Physical education instructor
Height/Weight 182 cm / 65 kg
Clubs
Skellefteå AIK (-'94), Hälle IF ('95-'00), Malmö AI ('01-)
Coach/Advisor Ola Thorsson
Event
1500m
Personal bests 3:38.47 Stockholm 25.7.2006
2010 best 3:40.60 Wattenscheid, GER 26.6.2010
Progression 1500m 800m
1994 1:53.39
1995 3:58.52 1:50.76
1996 3:55.50 1:50.81
1997 3:46.14 1:47.37
1998 3:44.25 1:47.00
1999 - 1:50.51i
2000 - 1:47.07
2001 - 1:47.31
2002 - 1:47.15
2003 3:41.87 1:45.45
2004 3:53.27 1:46.39
2005 3:44.70 1:47.34
2006 3:38.47 1:48.77
2007 3:39.30 1:51.4m+
2008 3:44.7m -
2009 3:40.40 1:50.67
2010 3:40.60 1:49.79
Major competitions 1998 European Ch heat (800m)
2000 European Cup/Super L 6 (800m)
2001 World Indoor Ch heat (800m)
2002 European Ch semi (800m)
2003 World Ch heat (800m)
2004 World Indoor Ch heat (800m)
2005 World Ch heat (800m)
2006 European Ch 9 (1500m)
2007 European Indoor Ch heat (1500m)
Internat. matches Outdoors: 18
Indoors: 2
National titles Outdoors: (800m): '97, '98, '00, '02, '04
(1500m): '05, '07, '09
Indoors: (800m): '99, '01, '04
(1500m): '03, '06, '07, '08, '10
PB other events 200m 22.80 Jönköping 18.6.1997
400m 47.97 Alingsås 14.6.2000
800m 1:45.45 Cuxhaven, GER 19.7.2003 **NR**
1000m 2:18.92 Stockholm 7.8.2007
5000m 15:04.0m Tyringe 13.9.2001
Note: Came to Sweden as a refugee from Somalia in the early 90’s. Took up running in Sweden in '94. Obtained Swedish citizenship
in spring of '99.
Before running the 1:45.45 had no less than 19 races at 1:47.00-1:47.94 collected over a 6-year period! His 1:45.45 erased a
NR that had stood for over 28 years!
In '06 switched focus from 800m to 1500m and promptly at Oslo Golden League became first Swedish sub-3:40 since '98
and later that summer became first Swedish championship finalist in the event since '86 when finishing 9th in Göteborg.
15