- New 30 for 30 Podcasts series tells the remarkable story of Somali Olympian Samia Yusuf Omar and her pursuit of a return to the Olympic Games
- Reported by journalist Teresa Krug, the series follows Samia’s journey from the track in Beijing across borders as she fights to keep her Olympic dream alive
- Winner of the Audio Nonfiction Reporting Award at Tribeca Film Festival
ESPN today announced The Fastest Girl in Somalia, the newest installment in its acclaimed 30 for 30 Podcasts series is available today. Reported by journalist Teresa Krug, the series tells the remarkable story of Somali Olympian Samia Yusuf Omar, whose determination to return to the Olympic Games would take her far beyond the track and across borders in pursuit of a dream.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, 17-year-old Samia stepped onto the track for the women’s 200-meter race wearing donated shoes, long black leggings and an oversized white T-shirt. Representing Somalia as one of just two athletes from the country at the Games, she finished last in her heat — but ran with such determination that the crowd gave her one of the loudest cheers of the race.
The moment captured international attention. But the world Samia returned to was collapsing.
Back home in Mogadishu, Samia continued to train amid civil war and instability, confronting scarce resources and growing pressure on women participating in sports. Inspired by Somali running icon Abdi Bile and determined to compete at the 2012 London Olympics, she refused to abandon her ambitions. Eventually, her pursuit of another chance on the Olympic stage became a journey across borders — running away from authorities, running toward the possibility of a different future and, ultimately, running for her life.
From 30 for 30 Podcasts, The Fastest Girl in Somalia goes beyond the celebrated Olympic moment to explore the promise — and the cost — of chasing the Olympic dream from one of the most difficult places in the world to pursue it. Through original reporting, firsthand accounts and archival audio, the series examines Samia’s childhood in Mogadishu, her unlikely path to Beijing, the realities she faced as a female athlete in Somalia and the dangerous journey she undertook in hopes of reaching London.
The series was received the Audio Nonfiction Reporting Award at the 2026 Tribeca Festival, honoring Krug’s years-long reporting of Samia’s story. The Fastest Girl in Somalia also explores the broader forces surrounding her journey — from war, migration and gender to the vast disparities in resources and opportunity among Olympic athletes — and what it means to pursue athletic greatness when simply having the freedom to compete can come at an extraordinary cost.
Episodes 1 and 2 debut today, followed by episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday.
The Fastest Girl in Somalia and all of ESPN’s 30 for 30 Podcasts can be found on ESPN.com, the ESPN App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, iHeart and wherever podcasts are available.
Episode Guide
- September 22 – Episode 1: Nine seconds
- September 22 – Episode 2: Nowhere to Run
- September 24 – Episode 3: The Sahara
- September 29 – Episode 4: Libya
- October 1 – Episode 5: The Sea
About ESPN 30 for 30 Podcasts
30 for 30 Podcasts, from ESPN Films and ESPN Audio, are original audio documentaries from the makers of the acclaimed 30 for 30 film series. Telling sports stories like you’ve never heard before, through a combination of original reporting and archival sound, 30 for 30 Podcasts goes beyond the field to explore how sports, competition, athleticism and adventure affect our lives and our world. The series has been recognized by the NYF International Radio Awards, the Webby Awards, and the RTDNA Kaleidoscope Awards, as well as inclusion on numerous “best-of” lists from press outlets such as The Atlantic, Vulture, TIME and Entertainment Weekly. Episodes have been featured on NPR, 99% Invisible, Slate Podcasts and more. For more, visit 30for30podcasts.com.
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Media Contact:
Beatrix.Panitz@espn.com