Gregor‎
Fischer

The Runner
About one year ago I accompanied the 23-year old South Sudanese athlete Santino Kenyi during his "Road to Rio" for the 2016 Olympic Games. He was representing the youngest country on our planet in their first Olympic participation.

With his story, the middle distance runner represents the faith and hope of a whole nation - a nation suffering from corruption, tribalism, famines as well as severe diseases on a daily basis. The last weeks before his departure to Rio were marked by renewed combats, looting and abuse.
He is not provided with food, clothing, equipment or a proper training ground. Santino dropped out of high school to be able to train every day, he has no job and no money. Sometimes, after the training, his coach gives him some money for a meal. He dreams of nothing less than becoming the worlds best middle distance runner.

The 23-years old South Sudanese middle distance runner Santino Kenyi is practicing for his first Olympic Games. He trains on a sandy and rocky ground near to the police headquarters in the area of Buluk in the capital Juba. He is selected to represent the
The 23-years old South Sudanese middle distance runner Santino Kenyi is practicing for his first Olympic Games. He trains on a sandy and rocky ground near to the police headquarters in the area of Buluk in the capital Juba. He is selected to represent the
The 23-years old South Sudanese middle distance runner,Santino Kenyi with his coach for his first Olympic Games. He trains on a sandy and rocky ground near to the police headquarters in the area of Buluk in the capital Juba. He is selected to represent th
The 23-years old South Sudanese middle distance runner Santino Kenyi is practicing for his first Olympic Games. He trains on a sandy and rocky ground near to the police headquarters in the area of Buluk in the capital Juba. He is selected to represent the
The 23-years old South Sudanese athlete Santino Kenyi after practicing for his first Olympic Games on a training ground near to the police headquarters in the area of Buluk in the capital Juba. He is selected to represent the youngest nation on this plane
The South Sudanese athlete Santino Kenyi is buying groceries and hygiene items on a market near his home in the capital Juba. He is selected to represent the youngest nation on this planet at the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio..Photo: Gregor Fischer
The South Sudanese athlete Santino Kenyi is visiting his stepfather in a remote village near Juba before leaving for the Olympic Games to Rio de Janeiro. He is selected to represent the youngest nation on this planet at the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio..Phot
The South Sudanese athlete Santino Kenyi at home in the district Gudele in the capital Juba. Santino shares the room with two other guys in a house inhabited by two families. He is selected to represent the youngest nation on this planet at the Olympic Ga
Santino Kenyi is joking with his friends near his home in the district Gudele in the capital Juba prior his departure to Brasil. Santino is selected to represent the youngest nation on this planet at the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio..Photo: Gregor Fischer
The South Sudanese athlete Santino Kenyi and his friends are playing domino before he leaves to Brasil. He is selected to represent the youngest nation on this planet at the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio..Photo: Gregor Fischer
Old shoes are lined up at the window of the room of the South Sudanese ahtlete Santino Kenyi. Santino shares the room with two other guys in a house inhabited by two families. He is selected to represent the youngest nation on this planet at the Olympic
Santino Kenyi is playing with the children of his neighborhood in the district Gudele in the capital of South Sudan, Juba, prior to his departure to Brasil. He is selected to represent the youngest nation on this planet at the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio..P
The South Sudanese athlete Santino Kenyi is preparing himself for the departure to Brasil. His home is in the district Gudele in the capital Juba. Santino shares the room with two other guys in a house inhabited by two families. He is selected to represe
Santino Kenyi says goodbye to the families living in the neighborhood of his home in the district Gudele in the capital Juba prior his departure to Brasil. His family is living in a remote village in Central Equatoria. Santino is selected to represent the
The athlete Santino Kenyi waving goodbye as he leaves his neighborhood in the district Gudele in the capital Juba before departuring to Brasil. Santino is selected to represent the youngest nation on this planet at the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio..Photo: Gr
The Olympic delegation of South Sudan is receiving sports wear sponsored by Korean business men prior to the departure to the Olympic Games in Brasil. Santino is selected to represent the youngest nation on this planet at the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio..Ph
The capital of South Sudan, Juba, is seen from an airplane during the flight of the delegation to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The middle distance runner Santino Kenyi is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation on this p
The South Sudanese ahtlete Santino Kenyi is watching the clouds from an airplane on his way from South Sudan to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brasil. He is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation on this planet at the O
The South Sudanese ahtlete Santino Kenyi is enjoying the entertainment system in a airplane on his way from South Sudan to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brasil. He is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation on this plan
The 23-years old South Sudanese athlete Santino Kenyi strolling through the duty free area of Dubai Airport on his way from South Sudan to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brasil. He is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest na
The South Sudanese athlete Santino Kenyi is standing in front of the statue of Christ the Redeemer during a trip to the city of Rio de Janeiro. He is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation on this planet for the first time at t
The athlete Santino Kenyi, from South Sudan, enjoys the view from the stands of the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro. He is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation on this planet for the first time at the Olympic Games. .Photo:
The South Sudanese delegation is walking through the Olympic stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The middle distance runner Santino Kenyi is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation of
The South Sudanese athlete Santino Kenyi and his coach are seen during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The middle distance runner Santino Kenyi is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation of Sout
The middle distance runner Santino Kenyi and his colleagues are singing the national anthem of South Sudan during a team welcome ceremonie at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation of
The athlete Santino Kenyi, from South Sudan, practices with his colleagues Guor Marial and Margret Hassan on a training ground of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation on this planet for t
The coaches from Sudan and South Sudan standing side by side, watching their athletes on a training ground of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. South Sudan is participating at Olympic Games for the first time. The youngest nation on this planet gained their
The athlete Santino Kenyi, from South Sudan, enjoys a massage after a training session on of the offical training grounds of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation on this planet for t
The South Sudanese middle distance runner Santino Kenyi is sitting in a shuttle bus from the training ground to the Olympic village after a long training session. He is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation on this planet for
The 23-years old athlete from South Sudanese, Santino Kenyi, is running during the qualification for the 1500m-competition in the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro. He is selected as one of three athletes to represent the youngest nation on this planet fo
The 23-years old middle distance runner from South Sudanese, Santino Kenyi, is running during the qualification for the 1500m-competition in the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro. He finished the race on the last place and therefore did not qualify for th
The 23-years old middle distance runner from South Sudanese, Santino Kenyi, is exhausted after the qualification for the 1500m-competition in the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro. He finished the race on the last place and therefore did not qualify for t
The South Sudanese athlet Santino Kenyi takes a selfie with a spectator after his participation in the 1500m-competiton at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He finished the race on the last place and therefore did not qualify for the finals. Santino is
People waiting to take a selfie with the South Sudanese athlet Santino Kenyi after his participation in the 1500m-competiton at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He finished the race on the last place and therefore did not qualify for the finals. Santi
Prisoners are carrying victims of the renewed clashes between government and opposition forces out of the mortuary in the capital of South Sudan, Juba, for mass funeral..Photo: Gregor Fischer
Displaced people queuing for food after renewed clashes between government and opposition forces of South Sudan, Juba..Photo: Gregor Fischer
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