Until recently, Abdirahman drove a GMC Denali, an enormous SUV with flashy chrome wheels.
WSJ: Abdi Abdirahman Goes for Gold or Whatever in the London Games
Unlike teammate Hall, who adopted a gluten-free diet two years ago, Abdirahman doesn't discriminate against carbs.
WSJ: Abdi Abdirahman Goes for Gold or Whatever in the London Games
At 5 feet 11 and 130 pounds, Abdirahman is more telephone pole than cactus.
WSJ: Abdi Abdirahman Goes for Gold or Whatever in the London Games
On coming to power, Abdirahman Muhammad declared cracking down on piracy as his number one priority.
Yet Murray adds that Abdirahman's relatively modest training regimen has limited injuries while preserving the athlete's passion for running.
WSJ: Abdi Abdirahman Goes for Gold or Whatever in the London Games
His friend and training partner Abdi Abdirahman, the runner-up in the 2007 Half, kept encouraging him during runs in Flagstaff, Ariz.
His college friend, Duncan, recalls a New Year's Eve party during which Abdirahman ran sprints through a restaurant without a shirt.
WSJ: Abdi Abdirahman Goes for Gold or Whatever in the London Games
Also Abdi Abdirahman, he's a favorite in the 10, 000 meter, the man they call the Black Cactus, which is a pretty awesome nickname.
Abdirahman Muhammad was elected by parliament on 8 January 2009, defeating Gen Mahmud Muse Hirsi "Adde" Muse, who had been in power since 2005.
But for the moment, Abdirahman has no plans to stop running.
WSJ: Abdi Abdirahman Goes for Gold or Whatever in the London Games
Hall, who coaches himself, said that Abdirahman taught him to relax.
WSJ: Abdi Abdirahman Goes for Gold or Whatever in the London Games
In recent years, Abdirahman said he's actually matured, in part thanks to a close relationship with Bernard Lagat, a two-time Olympic medalist in the 1, 500 meters.
WSJ: Abdi Abdirahman Goes for Gold or Whatever in the London Games
While other Olympians go by heroic-sounding nicknames like "bullet" or "torpedo, " Abdirahman calls himself the "Black Cactus, " a reference to his race and to the Arizona landscape in which he trains.
WSJ: Abdi Abdirahman Goes for Gold or Whatever in the London Games
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