Against the Odds: Samiya Yuusf Omar

Mohamed Olad Hassan, in Mogadishu, met a young sprinter representing conflict-wracked Somalia.

Somali athlete Samiya Yuusf Omar is just 16-years-old. She comes from a destitute family with no breadwinner.

Militiamen in this Muslim country often prevent her from training, saying women should not take part in sport.

"Early in the morning... sometimes I come to a roadblock set up by either government troops along with Ethiopians or armed militia, who prevent me from going to the training," she added.

When she can get through, Samiya practises on a track full of mortar craters at the Mogadishu Stadium, almost destroyed by the years of war.

When she was named as part of Somalia's Olympic team earlier this year, the honour kindled her hopes for the future.