Ghent University (UGent) awards Olympic medalist and record-setting marathon runner Bashir Abdi an institutional honorary doctorate for his exceptional sports career and societal contributions. Born in Mogadishu (1989) and raised in Ghent, Abdi is a co-founder of Sportaround and the Bashir Abdi Fund, supporting social cohesion and healthcare workers.
Abdi won bronze at Tokyo 2021 and silver at Paris 2024, setting the European marathon record in 2021. Rector Petra De Sutter and Vice-Rector Herwig Reynaert praised him as a role model who embodies inclusion, engagement, and excellence. The honorary doctorate will be conferred on March 8, 2026, during Bashir’s Run at the Wouter Weylandt Stadium in Gentbrugge.
Source: Ghent University
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