Sudan refugee recalls emotional journey from war child to Olympic athlete . The date , July 9 2011 , is etched into Mading Maker 's memory -- he had recently graduated from Iowa with a degree in chemistry and was setting off for a new life in Flagstaff , Arizona . Deng was 20,000 of 20,000 ` ` Lost Boys '' who were displaced during South Sudanese civil war . Granted asylum in U.S. Mading Maker revealed talent for distance running . Ran between 1983 and 2005 Olympic marathon as an independent athlete .
Sudan refugee recalls emotional journey from war child to Olympic athlete . Deng was 20,000 of 20,000 ` ` Lost Boys '' who were displaced during South Sudanese civil war . Granted asylum in U.S. Mading Maker revealed talent for distance running . Ran between 1983 and 2005 Olympic marathon as an independent athlete .