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Long-distance runner Mahamed Mahamed said it was an “amazing feeling” to be selected for the Olympics after his fourth-placed finish in the London Marathon.
The 26-year-old finished with a time of two hours seven minutes five seconds, the third-fastest marathon time ever by a British runner.
“I’ve been working so hard for the last 12 years to become an Olympian,” Southampton-based Mahamed told BBC South Today.
“It’s the dedication and the time that I have given to the sport. It’s now paid off.”
Mahamed clocked a new personal best to finish under the Olympic qualifying time of 2:08:10 to book his place at the Paris Games.
Team GB team-mate Emile Cairess finished third to make it the first time since 1990 that Great Britain had two men finish inside the top five at the London Marathon.
Mahamed, Cairess and Philip Sesemann will now make up the British men’s marathon team at the Olympics.
Mahamed was born in Jarso, Ethiopia and emigrated to Southampton with his family in 2011 when he was 14 years old.
After his appearance in the London Marathon, he returned to Cantell Secondary School in Southampton where he thanked those who first spotted his talent.
“The excitement about what he achieved is phenomenal,” said teacher Siobhan Dodds.
“We would often take him to meets on Saturdays and as he progressed we took him to places like Donington and Bolton, just to help him.”
Mahamed, who trains at Southampton Athletics Club, only switched to running marathons 14 months ago but this summer he will compete against the greatest athletes from across the globe.
The men’s marathon is scheduled to take place on 10 August with the women’s event the following day.
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