KUALA LUMPUR – The heavy rainfall was no obstacle for Cambodian runner Bou Samnang in finishing her race in the women’s 5,000m event, despite being the last person to do so.
The race that took place at Morodok Techo National Sports Complex in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Monday saw the host country athlete determined to complete her mission in which she clocked 22m 54s.
The second-last finisher, teammate Run Romdul, had already clocked her race about 40 seconds earlier.
Cambodia's Bou Samnang was the last runner left on the track long after the rest of the #SEAGames2023 women's 5,000m field were done. Then it started to rain. But she gutted it out and finished. The emotional reaction shows how much it mattered to her pic.twitter.com/8z0IYTyM9P
— steve moore (@singaporestevem) May 9, 2023
In a video posted on Twitter by Sports News Television Asia senior editor Steve Moore yesterday, Bou could be seen struggling to finish her race as the heavy rain started to pour.
“Then it started to rain. But she gutted it out and finished. The emotional reaction shows how much it mattered to her,” Moore tweeted.
Bou, who was not ranked, broke down in tears the second she crossed the finish line and ran to get her country’s flag.
She also joined her palms to thank the supporters who had been sitting by the stands to cheer her on.
Bou’s perseverance also received an outpouring of support from the netizens, with many saying that they felt inspired by her effort.
when i was in the school team long long ago, my teachers told me; not the end matters but true sportsmanship is what every athlete should practise https://t.co/lotrUDMhhM
— Keep walking, slowly but surely. (@OneZahir) May 10, 2023
@OneZahir recalled his schoolteacher’s words that true sportsmanship is what every athlete should practice, instead of what they reach at the end.
Some of us want to be ahead of everyone else, others not to be left behind and then there are those who just want to finish. All have stories to tell. https://t.co/ETwHqhDqty
— Presenna Nambiar (@pres_enna) May 10, 2023
Another Twitter user, @pres_enna said that everyone has a story to tell.
“While some aimed at being ahead of everyone else, others focused on not being left behind, but there are those who just wished to finish what they started,” wrote the user.
Sometimes winning doesn't mean getting a place on the podium but finding the strength to dig deep and overcome obstacles to finish what you started. Congratulations to Bou Samnang...stay strong!
— 아롱 아즐리나 (@alongsj) May 10, 2023
Meanwhile, @alongsj congratulated Bou for her effort, commenting that winning does not mean getting a place on the podium.
“Instead, it is about finding the strength to overcome obstacles,” said another netizen.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Oanh clinched the gold medal by clocking 17m, followed by fellow compatriot Pham Thi Hong Le (17m 6s), and Indonesia’s Odekta Elvina Naibaho (17m 13s) with silver and bronze respectively. – The Vibes, May 10, 2023
