User:Arconning/Ihab Salama

Ihab Salama Abdellah (ايهاب سلامة عبد الله; born 30 November 1977) is a Palestinian retired football player and long-distance runner who was one of the first Palestinians to take part at the Olympic Games. Born to a family of ten in a refugee camp in Gaza City, Salama took part in the First Intifada before pursuing sports. He self-trained as a long-distance runner at Gazan streets and beaches, alongside fellow long-distance runner Majed Abu Maraheel.

Prior to the Games, he was part of the Palestine national football team. He had to compete in the men's 5000 metres as the rest of his teammates were barred from competing, but he himself did not compete due to an injury. He then continued competing for Palestine in other international tournaments, such as multiple IAAF World Road Running Championships and IAAF World Cross Country Championships. After his retirement from sport, he became a football coach at the Al-Shati refugee camp.