For many people, running a marathon is a massive test of resilience and willpower. For Abere Kassw Belay, it's a daily reminder of the opportunities in his adopted home of Australia.
"My options were to go home and die or stay in Australia and live" - Abere Belay, Australia's 2021 IOC Refugee Scholarship Holder
![Abere Belay - Dakar Marathon 2017 - Getty Images](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.olympics.com.au%2Fpublic%2Fstyles%2Flandscape_header_section%2Fs3%2F2021-02%2Fgettyimages-669103656-612x612.jpg.webp%3Fitok%3D9PgOzctg&w=1200&q=90)