The embattled road of Olympic runner Guor Maker
CONCORD, N.H. (BVM) — Many may remember the marathon runner who was known as the man without a country, after qualifying for the Olympics nearly a decade ago.
Guor Maker is back in the spotlight, after the recent documentary “Runner,” showcased the Concord and South Sudan native’s struggle.
Living in war-torn Sudan as a child, Maker left his family at the age of 8, as he tried to flee the country. He would be captured and enslaved twice, while later breaking free on both occasions.
Maker gained his freedom after running through Northern Sudan to a refugee camp in Egypt, where he would eventually meet up with his aunt and uncle. Maker left with them after they were accepted into the United States as refugees. He lost eight of his nine siblings to the civil war in Sudan before arriving in the U.S.
While in America, Maker attended Concord High School in 2001. At the school, the Sudan native would find his passion for running. Maker, also known as Guor Marial, would learn that running was a sport, deciding to try out for the track and cross country teams. His ability as a runner led to a 2004 NHIAA Meet of Champions cross country title and a two-mile national championship.
Maker’s family moved to Manchester while he was still enrolled at Concord High School. Deciding to stay at the school, Maker would live with his CHS teammates, graduating in 2005. After high school, Maker attended Iowa State University, where he would become an All-American runner. In the classroom, Maker obtained a degree in chemistry graduating in 2011.
In his graduating year, Maker ran his first marathon completing it with an Olympic-qualifying time. With a chance to compete in the Olympics, Maker would come to the stark reality that he was country-less. With South Sudan just recently becoming independent, the country did not have the necessary Olympic committee in place.
Maker refused an open invite from the Sudan team because of his ties to the war-torn history of the current Sudanese government. With no clear options, Maker would run as an independent Olympic athlete during the 2012 London Olympics, finishing in 47th in the marathon.
The Olympian went on to compete in the 2016 Olympics, this time, as a South Sudan athlete. The two-time Olympian joined the Air Force in 2018 and trains as part of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program. Now 36, Maker lives with his wife in Colorado.
