Bulletin News

09/24/2009 

Lopez Lomong, a 2008 U.S. Olympic team member and one of the "Lost Boys of Sudan," will speak on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The event will be held from 10:20-11:10 a.m. in Old Main Brown Auditorium. Supported by the Sport Management Department, the lecture is free and open to the public.

Lomong's life story is one of both perseverance and triumph. The U.S. flag bearer during the Opening Ceremonies at the Summer Games in Beijing, Lomong, at age 6, was one of more than 100 young boys kidnapped by government soldiers in his native Sudan. They were taken to a prison and trained as child soldiers. Lomong escaped with three friends and spent 10 years in a Kenyan refugee camp. He was taken in at age 16 by a family in Central New York as part of a program that is known as "The Lost Boys of Sudan."

Lomong became a runner at Tully High School, where he earned a New York state high school championship. He went on to Northern Arizona University, during which time he earned his U.S. citizenship. In 2007, Lomong was the Division I NCAA indoor champion in the 3,000-meters and the outdoor champion at 1,500-meters. One year after becoming a U.S. citizen, Lomong competed in Beijing. He did not medal, but made it to the semifinals.

Lomong is an active member of Team Darfur, an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. He now runs professionally.

Lomong's lecture is organized and supported by SUNY Cortland's Sport Management Department.