Lopez Lomong story started when he escaped from captivity in Sudan at age six. His story could have been like the unfortunate thousands of the Darfur genocide.
Lopez spent some 10 years in one of the harshest environment imaginable- a Kenyan refugee camp where he made do with a ration of one meal a day.
During the 2000 Olympics, he chose to walk five miles to watch the Michael Johnson run. He got hooked from that day on. His dream was to be an Olympian.
Fate smiled on him and he found new home in Syracuse USA, where a foster parent made a choice to raise him.
When the Beijing Olympics opened several hours ago in China, Lopez, now a professional runner, was nominated as the flag bearer for the American team.
The message is clear.
Watch CNN video footage of Lomong talk about this experience. AfricanLoft has additional coverage:
