Nageeye's friend and training buddy Bashir Abdi (32), whom he 'dragged' to the bronze medal in a controversial way during the Games, will start at the 40th NN Marathon Rotterdam, as reported earlier. The Belgian top athlete of Somali descent wants to decorate the anniversary edition with a European record. That record is registered to the Turkish athlete Kaan Kigen Özbilen with 2.04.16. Bashir Abdi's PR is 2:04:49, the second fastest European time.
Mario Kadiks, who is retiring as organizer of the NN Marathon Rotterdam after 35 editions: ,,Pro athletes with such great aspirations as Marius Kipserem and Bashir Abdi give the event something special. It promises to be an exciting and fast race.”