Ahmed Issa

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Ahmed Issa

| image = Ahmed Issa.png

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| caption = Issa in 1964

| fullname = Ahmed Issa

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| nationality = Chadian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|07|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ouham, Ubangi-Shari

| death_date = {{Death year and age|1983|1943}}

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| country = Chad

| sport = Athletics

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{{Medal|Country|{{CHA}}}}

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Ahmed Issa (17 July 1943 – 1983) was a Chadian middle-distance runner. Born in Ouham in Ubangi-Shari, he represented Chad in international competition and set a national record in the 800 metres in 1962. He then competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics as part of the first Chadian delegation at an Olympic Games. There, he ran in the men's 800 metres and reached the semifinals.

Footage of him in Tokyo was featured in the 1965 documentary film Tokyo Olympiad. After the 1964 Summer Games, he competed at the 1965 All-Africa Games and set a national record in the 1500 metres, also winning the bronze medal in the event. He also competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics in the men's 800 metres and men's 1500 metres, advancing to the semifinals at the latter.

Biography

Ahmed Issa was born on 17 July 1943 in Ouham in then-Ubangi-Shari (now Central African Republic). Before the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, he had set a personal best in the 800 metres with a time of 1:48.6 at Thonon-les-Bains.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/66328 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328183101/https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/66328 |archive-date=28 March 2025 |work=Olympedia |title=Ahmed Issa Biographical Information |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2025 }} This time would set a Chadian national record.

Chad first made an Olympic appearance at the 1964 Summer Olympics,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-register-1st-olympic-entries-set/175104691/ |via=Newspapers.com |work=The Register |title=1st Olympic Entries Set |agency=Associated Press |date=21 June 1964 |page=24 }} where Issa was part of it's delegation. He first competed in the heats of the men's 800 metres on 14 October against seven other athletes. He had placed second in his heat with a time of 1:49.7, advancing to the semifinals.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-mens-800-meter-run-tri/175104789/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Men's 800-meter run trials |work=The Toronto Star |date=14 October 1964 |page=20 }} The semifinals were held the following day and Issa competed against seven other competitors. He had ran in a time of 1:49.4 and placed sixth in his round, not qualifying for the finals.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-mens-800-meter-run-s/175104765/ |work=Arizona Daily Star |title=Men's 800-meter run semifinals |via=Newspapers.com |page=43 |date=16 October 1964 }} He was also entered to compete in the men's 1500 metres though did not start in the event.

While at the 1964 Summer Olympics, he was featured in the 1965 documentary film Tokyo Olympiad directed by Kon Ichikawa. The footage shows his training regimen and him wandering the streets of Tokyo before his elimination in the event.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/21/how-capturing-the-small-details-at-tokyo-64-created-a-masterpiece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727002207/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/21/how-capturing-the-small-details-at-tokyo-64-created-a-masterpiece |archive-date=27 July 2024 |title=How capturing the small details at Tokyo 64 created a masterpiece |last1=Bull |first1=Andy |date=21 July 2021 |access-date=23 June 2025 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-07-20/1964-tokyo-olympics-olympiad-cary-grant-walk-dont-run-poppy-hill-witches-orient |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009095147/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-07-20/1964-tokyo-olympics-olympiad-cary-grant-walk-dont-run-poppy-hill-witches-orient |archive-date=9 October 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |title=The Tokyo Olympics are here. These 5 movies set at the city's 1964 Games are timely revelations |last1=Crust |first1=Kevin |date=20 July 2021 }} After the Summer Games, he competed at the 1965 All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo. He competed in the men's 1500 metres and had ran in a time of 3:47.8 for a new personal best, Chadian national record,{{cite web|url=https://iaafmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/misc/Oregon22/Oregon%20stats%20book.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428065243/https://iaafmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/misc/Oregon22/Oregon%20stats%20book.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2025 |work=World Athletics |title=2022 World Athletics Championships Statistics Book |last=Butler |first=Mark |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2025 }} and third place in the event.{{cite web|title=All-Africa Games|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/afg.htm|work=Athletics Weekly |url-status=live |archive-date=23 February 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020223052315/http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/afg.htm|accessdate=23 June 2025}}

Issa then competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. He first competed in the heats of the men's 800 metres on 13 October against six other competitors. He had placed fourth with a time of 1:49.0, not advancing to the semifinals.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympedia.org/results/60569|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250427015414/http://www.olympedia.org/results/60569 |archive-date=27 April 2025 |work=Olympedia |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2025 |title=800 metres, Men }} He then competed in the heats of the men's 1500 metres on 18 October against eleven other competitors. He placed fourth with a time of 3:53.13 and advanced to the semifinals. In the semifinals against twelve other competitors, he ran in a time of 3:53.26 and placed eighth, not advancing to the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/60581 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250413141557/https://www.olympedia.org/results/60581 |archive-date=13 April 2025 |title=1,500 metres, Men |work=Olympedia |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2025 }} Issa later died in 1983.

References

External links

{{Olympedia|66328}}

Category:1943 births

Category:1983 deaths

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1964 Summer Olympics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1968 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic athletes for Chad

Category:Chadian male middle-distance runners

Category:African Games bronze medalists for Chad

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1965 All-Africa Games

Category:Medalists at the 1965 All-Africa Games

Category:African Games bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)