Joseph Deng

Joseph Deng (born 7 July 1998) is an Australian middle-distance runner of South Sudanese heritage. In July 2018, he broke the 800m Australian record with a time of 1:44.21, which had stood since the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

Joseph Deng
Personal information
Birth nameJoseph Deng
Nickname(s)Dengfever, Deng
NationalityAustralian
Born (1998-07-07) 7 July 1998
Kakuma, Kenya
ResidenceMelbourne, Australia
OccupationAthlete
Height183 cm (72 in)
Weight62 kg (137 lb)
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportMiddle-distance running
RankAustralian record holder
Event(s)800 metres
ClubSt Kevins
Coached byJustin Rinaldi
Achievements and titles
Regional finals2018 Commonwealth Games
Personal best(s)1:44.20

Biography

Deng was born in Kakuma, Kenya where a UNHCR refugee camp was established in 1969. His mother Rebecca left Sudan to escape the Second Sudanese Civil War.[1][2] In 2004, his family moved to Toowoomba, Queensland when he was six and in 2010 he moved to Ipswich at the age of 12.[2][3] He first attended Raceview State School and then Ipswich Grammar School. In an interview, Deng said that "he identifies himself as Sudanese, he identifies himself as Australian."[1]

Athletics career

Whilst at Raceview State School he was encouraged to attend after-school athletics coaching at Ipswich Grammar School under the guidance of coach Di Sheppard.[2] He was granted a scholarship at Ipswich Grammar School and continued to be coached by Sheppard. His uncle John Deng also played a role in his development.[2]

At the age of 17, he was selected in the Australian team for the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships.[2] He finished third in the 800 m semi-final in 1:48.49 but failed to qualify for the final.[2] Later in 2016, he ran a personal best of 1:46.51.[2] In 2016, he moved to Melbourne to be coached by Justin Rinaldi who coached Alexander Rowe to run 1:44.40, equalling the Ralph Doubell 's Australian record.[2][1]

In 2018, he was controversially selected to compete in 800 m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Queensland after not qualifying for the final at the Australian Athletics Championships. But in the B final he ran a personal best of 1:45.71 and was subsequently selected.[2] At the Games, he finished seventh in the 800m final in 1:47.20. On 20 July 2018, at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Monaco he finished seventh in the 800m but broke the Australian record with a time of 1:44.21. The previous Australian record of 1:44.40 was set by Ralph Doubell in winning the gold medal at altitude at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and equaled in 2014 by Alexander Rowe in Monaco.[3] Deng's record also broke New Zealander Peter Snell's Oceania record of 1:44.3 that was set in Christchurch in 1962.[4] At the end of the 2018 season, Deng had run four times under 1.45 in the year, the most ever by an Australian.[4]

Deng has also been credited for his ability to run sprint distances. He boasts a 47.25 over the 400m and a wind-aided 22.24 200m.

Following the political controversy surrounding purported "African crime gangs" in Melbourne, Deng was cited by the ABC as "a track star of boundless potential" and "proof positive of what immigrants can offer to their adopted country when given the opportunity."[5]

gollark: Sometimes things don't particularly make sense.
gollark: Grammar is derived from actual use of English, not the other way round.
gollark: I think it would be considered an adverb.
gollark: Probably a USB, it can boot off that now.
gollark: The micro-SD card for my RPi mysteriously died on Tuesday, so now I have to replace it with something or other.

References
  1. Read, Brent (11 April 2018). "Joseph Deng the Sudanese refugee who can win 800m medal". The Australian. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  2. "Joseph Deng". Athletics Australia website. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  3. "Australian Joseph Deng has broken the 50-year-old Australian 800m record at the Diamond League meet in Monaco". SBS News. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  4. "Deng breaks long-standing Australian 800m record - Monaco Diamond League". Athletics Australia. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  5. Gearin, Mary (26 July 2018). "Joseph Deng and other Sudanese-Australian athletes offer bright future". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Sydney. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
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