Guor Marial made his debut in the London Games on Sunday , a major accomplishment for the South Sudanese marathoner who ran as an independent in the Olympics . Marial , 28 , pounded his way around the 26.2-mile course in 2:19:32 . He finished 47th in the race dominated by fellow Africans Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda , who won gold , and Kenyans Abel Kirui and Wilson Kiprotich , who won silver and bronze , respectively . But for Marial , completing the race was as good as winning . The marathoner was born in what is now South Sudan , which split from Sudan last year after years of conflict between the two that left millions dead . Though he is a permanent resident of the United States , where he fled 11 years ago to escape the bloody conflict , he is not an American citizen and thus can not compete under its flag . He does not have a passport for South Sudan , either , and can not compete for his homeland . And even if he had one , the world 's newest nation was not eligible for the Olympics this year because it does not have a Games committee . Since he qualified for the marathon but could not run for both nations , the International Olympic Committee granted him permission to run as an independent . He donned a gray and black uniform with IOA -- Independent Olympic Athlete -- printed on it . `` Even if I am not going to carry or wear the flag , I will be the flag of my nation . South Sudan will be in my heart , '' he said before the race . Marial left home in 1993 . His story of survival from the war has taken him across different countries , including Egypt , where he sought refuge before the United States granted him asylum in 2001 . He attended high school in New Hampshire , where he gave competitive running a try after years of `` running away from conflict , '' he said . He later went to Iowa State University , where he had an athletic scholarship and was an All-American cross-country runner . The Olympian has not seen his parents since 1993 , when he first fled what is now South Sudan . But on Sunday , they planned to catch a glimpse of their son on television after nearly two decades . `` I 'm hoping they will at least see me run in the Olympics , '' Marial said last month . `` They live in a village with no electricity and no televisions . But they planned to walk to the nearest big town about 40 miles away so that they can watch me on television . ''
` ` Even if I am not going to carry or wear the flag , I will be the champion of my nation , '' he said . Guor also competes under Olympic flag . The athlete was born in what is now South Korea . He does not have a passport .