Mohammed Dwedar, the sole Palestinian athlete at the 20th World Athletics Championships in Japan, described his participation as a race he "cannot lose," running not only for himself but for his country.
Competing in the men’s 800m heats, Dwedar expressed pride and mixed emotions, acknowledging the immense challenges of training amid the ongoing devastation in Palestine, where proper tracks and safe training facilities are scarce.
He shared that his sister inspired him to run and that focusing on the race helps him momentarily block out the constant bad news from home. Despite these hardships, Dwedar said running allows him to send a message of resilience and hope for the Palestinian flag.
He also highlighted the severe toll of Israeli attacks on Gaza’s sports community, with over 800 athletes killed, nearly 300 sports facilities destroyed, and 90% of infrastructure wiped out. Yet, he remains determined: “I run from the heart… when I run, I feel like I am doing something for this flag.”
