A 19-year-old Ethiopian track and field star, Sembo Almayew, has faced significant setbacks despite her recent successes. After finishing fifth at the Paris Olympics in the 3000m steeplechase against seasoned athletes, she went on to become the U20 world champion in the same event at Lima, setting a meet record. Almayew had high hopes for the Diamond League Finals in Brussels, where she aimed to compete against elite athletes. However, her ambitions were thwarted when her visa application was denied by the European Union (EU), causing widespread frustration among her fans.
Track and field enthusiasts expressed outrage over the situation, with many questioning why such an accomplished athlete was unable to secure a visa in time. One user on X (formerly Twitter) argued that there should be an expedited visa process for world-class athletes like Almayew, calling for Ethiopia’s EU ambassador to file a complaint. Despite the outcry, such issues are not new. In 2022, the Ethiopian cross-country team faced similar problems ahead of the World Cross Country Championships in Ireland. Recent EU policies have increased the processing time for Ethiopian visas from 15 to 45 days, adding more challenges for athletes like Almayew.
Elite Running Team, Almayew’s management agency, confirmed her inability to compete in Brussels due to the visa delay, expressing their disappointment in an official statement on Instagram. They explained that even with her impressive track record, Almayew’s visa couldn’t be processed in time, largely due to new EU regulations introduced in April 2024.
The broader track and field community echoed frustrations, with many pointing out that visa-related issues have affected numerous African athletes in the past. For instance, Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala experienced similar hurdles in 2022 while trying to secure a U.S. visa for the World Championships. Additionally, two members of Nigeria’s Women’s National Football Team struggled to obtain visas to travel to Spain ahead of the Paris Olympics.
In another instance, the Nigerian U16 women’s football team was denied entry to Spain for the 2024 UEFA U16 Development Tournament due to visa issues, sparking more criticism about how these delays continue to impact African athletes.
While Almayew’s team has not disclosed when her visa application was submitted, fans were left frustrated that she would miss out on the opportunity to compete in the Diamond League Finals. As the 2024 track and field season nears its end, Almayew’s visa issue serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges African athletes face in competing internationally. Many in the track and field community are calling for changes to prevent more careers from being derailed by bureaucratic delays.
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