Burundi at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Burundi at the Olympic Games

Flag of Burundi
IOC code  BDI
NOC Comité National Olympique du Burundi
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing
Competitors 3 in 2 sports
Flag bearer Francine Niyonizigiye
Medals Gold
0		 Silver
0		 Bronze
0		 Total
0
Olympic history (summary)
Summer Games

Burundi participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, China from 8 to 24 August 2008.[1] It was Burundi's fourth appearance in the summer Olympics since its debut in 1996.[2] The Burundi team included three athletes: runners Joachim Nshimirimana and Francine Niyonizigiye, as well as swimmer Elsie Uwamahoro.[3] Niyonizigiye, a marathon runner, was flag bearer for the opening ceremony.[4] None of the Burundi athletes progressed further than the qualifying round.[5][6]

Background

Burundi had participated in three previous Summer Olympics, between its debut in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[2] At its debut, the country sent seven athletes to the games, all of whom competed in athletics.[7] The largest number of Burunidian athletes participating in the summer games is seven in 1996 and 2004.[2] The only Burundian competitor to win a medal at the Olympics was Vénuste Niyongabo, who won gold in the men's 5000 metres in 1996.[7][8] Three athletes from Burundi were selected to compete in the 2008 Olympics: Joachim Nshimirimana in the men's marathon, Francine Niyonizigiye in the women's track and field 5000 metres and Elsie Uwamahoro in the women's 50 metre freestyle swimming.[5][6]

Athletics

Men's competition

At the 2008 Olympics, Burundi was represented by one male in athletics,[6] marathon runner Joachim Nshimirimana.[6] At age 35, Nshimirimana was the country's oldest competitor, and was competing at his second Olympics. He competed in the 2004 Olympics, also in marathon.[9] He competed on the 24 August in Beijing,[10] and finished 68th out of 95[lower-alpha 1] in a time of 2 hours, 29 minutes and 55 seconds, over 23 minutes behind the winner, Samuel Kamau Wanjiru.[10]

Men
Athlete Event Final
Result Rank
Joachim Nshimirimana Marathon 2:29:55 68

Women's competition

The Beijing National Stadium, where Nshimirimana and Niyonizigiye competed in track and field events

Francine Niyonizigiye, Burundi's flag bearer at the opening ceremony,[4] competed on Burundi's behalf at the Beijing Olympics, in the women's 5000 metre races.[11] Born in 1988, Niyonizigiye was 19 years old at the 2008 Olympics.[11] Niyonizigiye previously competed in the 2004 Olympics, also in the 5000 metres.[11] During the qualification round, which took place on August 19, Niyonizigiye competed in the sixteen-person second heat.[lower-alpha 2] She finished the race in 17 minutes, 8.44 seconds, finishing in fourteenth place, the last of the finishing athletes, after Russia's Yelena Zadorozhnaya was disqualified.[12] Niyonizigiye finished just under a minute behind thirteenth placing Hungarian Krisztina Papp.[12] The heat itself was led by Ethiopia's Meseret Defar (14 minutes 56.32 seconds).[12] Of the 32 competitors to finish the event's first round, Niyonizigiye ranked 31st.[13] She did not advance to later rounds.[13]

Women
Athlete Event Heat Final
Time Rank Time Rank
Francine Niyonizigiye 5000 m 17:08.44 14 Did not advance

Swimming

Women's competition

Burundi had one women competing in swimming at the 2008 Olympics,[5] Elsie Uwamahoro, who competed in the 50 metre freestyle.[5] Beijing was Uwamahoro's first Olympics.[14] She was selected to compete in the second heat on 15 August.[15] Uwamahoro finished seventh out of eight athletes in her heat, in a time of 36.86 seconds. She finished ahead of Mariama Souley Bana from Niger (40.83 seconds). The heat was led by Zakia Nassar from Palestine and Karishma Karki from Nepal who swam 31.97 and 32.35 seconds respectively.[15] Her time placed her 86th out of 90 athletes and she did not qualify for the semi-finals.[16]

Women
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Elsie Uwamahoro 50 m freestyle 36.86 86 Did not advance

Notes

  1. ↑ 19 of the 95 athletes did not finish.[10]
  2. ↑ One of the 16 athletes did not start the event.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Countries Participating in Olympics". Sporting99.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Sports Reference – Countries – Burundi". Sports Reference. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Burundi". Sports Reference. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  4. 1 2 "List of flagbearers Bejing 2008" (PDF). olympic.org. 8 August 2008. p. 2. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Burundi – Swimming". Sports Reference. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Burundi – Athletics". Sports Reference. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Sports Reference – Atlanta 1996 – Burundi". Sports Reference. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Sports Reference – Athletes – Burundi – Vénuste Niyongabo". Sports Reference. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Sports Reference – Athletes – Burundi – Joachim Nshimirimana". Sports Reference. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2008 – Marathon – Men – Final – Result". IAAF. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 "Sports Reference – Athletes – Burundi – Francine Niyonizigiye". Sports Reference. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – Beijing 2008 – 5000 metres – Women – Heats – Results". IAAF. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  13. 1 2 "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – Beijing 2008 – 5000 metres – Women – Heats – Summary". IAAF. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "Sports Reference – Athletes – Burundi – Elsie Uwamahoro". Sports Reference. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  15. 1 2 "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Swimming – 50 metres freestyle – Women". Sports Reference. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Olympics results – Beijing 2008 – Swimming – 50 metres freestyle – Women". olympic.org. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
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