From fleeing war-torn Sudan to fourth in the 800m Olympic final: The incredible story of Peter Bol.

On Wednesday night, Nagmeldin "Peter" Bol placed fourth in the Olympic men’s 800m final.

The 27-year-old led the pack for much of the race. It was only in the final 200 metres that he was overtaken by Kenyans Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir and Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich, and Poland's Patryk Dobek. 

Give me a B, give me an O, give me an L!

PETER BOL IS THE FIRST AUSSIE SINCE 1968 TO MAKE THE 800m FINAL!!#Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics pic.twitter.com/19DyMyyYcJ

— 7Olympics (@7olympics) August 1, 2021

Bol's journey to the Olympics has been unlike many others. Here's what we know about Australia's new star of the track. 

Peter Bol's upbringing. 

Bol was born in 1994 in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. At age four, his family fled the war-torn country and emigrated to Egypt. They lived there for six years before migrating to Toowoomba, Queensland.

When they arrived, no one in his family spoke English.

From a young age, Bol remembers his father telling him stories about Sudan's conflict and their family's struggles. 

"So [my father] always tried to push us a bit harder in whatever we do. Sudan has always had conflict and it wasn’t really a safe place to be," he told The West Australian in 2015. "So they saw that the best opportunity was to get their children out of there and work towards a better life.

"I’m pretty grateful to [my parents] because all of their circumstances worked to my favour. Life could be a lot different."

Peter Bol's family fled war-torn Sudan when he was four years old. Image: Getty.

After primary school, Bol's family moved to Perth, where he was awarded a basketball scholarship for St Norbert College.

It wasn't until he was 16 years old that Bol discovered his sprinting skill - or, rather, a teacher spotted his prowess and potential. At a school carnival, one of Bol's teachers picked him out as a true talent and encouraged him to join an athletics club.

"I thought it was a pretty good deal especially because it meant I’d be fitter for basketball so I agreed and she delivered," Bol told Athletics Australia.

Just mere years later, Bol won the national junior 800m title in a PB 1:48.90. 

Peter Bol's Olympic career. 

Bol made his first Australian team selection for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio when he was 22 years old. There, he placed sixth in his heat in 1:49.36. (He has already shaved five seconds off this time in Tokyo, with a 1:44.11 in the semi-final.)

Peter Bol after his race at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. Image: Getty.

In early 2018, Bol suffered from a stress fracture which saw him miss the Commonwealth Games selection. By 2019 though, he had come back stronger and managed to win Australia's national title and become Australia's only representative at Doha's world championships.

Amid his gruelling training schedule, he has also completed a Bachelor of Construction Management and Economics degree at Curtin University. 

Following Wednesday's final, Bol said: "Someone said did you feel the pressure of the whole nation behind you, I said no, I think I feel strength.

"No pressure, no nerves that I couldn't control, and it was just one of those races you can't win."

Australia couldn't be more proud. 

Feature image: Getty.

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