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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.<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been working so hard for the last 12 years to become an Olympian,” Southampton-based Mahamed told BBC South Today.<\/p>\n
“It’s the dedication and the time that I have given to the sport. It’s now paid off.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Mahamed, Cairess and Philip Sesemann will now make up the British men’s marathon team at the Olympics.<\/p>\n
Mahamed was born in Jarso, Ethiopia and emigrated to Southampton with his family in 2011 when he was 14 years old.<\/p>\n
After his appearance in the London Marathon, he returned to Cantell Secondary School in Southampton where he thanked those who first spotted his talent.<\/p>\n
“The excitement about what he achieved is phenomenal,” said teacher Siobhan Dodds.<\/p>\n
“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.” <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The men’s marathon is scheduled to take place on 10 August with the women’s event the following day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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