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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women'sathletics | ||
Representing Sweden | ||
| European Championships | ||
 | 2014 Zürich | 5000 m |
 | 2016 Amsterdam | 5000 m |
| European Cross Country Championships | ||
| 2017 Šamorín | Senior race |
 | 2014 Samokov | Senior race |
Meraf Bahta Ogbagaber (born 24 June 1989) is a Swedishmiddle-distance runner. She represents Sweden in international competitions and specializes in the1500 metres and3000 metres.
She was born inDekishahay (at the time still part ofEthiopia). As a junior, she competed in the junior races at theIAAF World Cross Country Championships, finishing twelfth in2006 and sixth in2007. Together with her teammates she won the silver medal in the team event at the 2007 championships. She finished fifth in the 1500 metres at the2006 World Junior Championships.[1] At the2007 All-Africa Games she finished seventh in the 5000 metres.[2] She competed in her first senior cross-country race at the2008 World Cross Country Championships, but only finished 43rd.
Her personal best times are 4:05.11 minutes in the 1500 metres, achieved in July 2013 inHeusden-Zolder; and 14:59.49 minutes in the 5000 metres, achieved in July 2014 inPalo Alto, USA.[1] The 5000 personal best also marked a Swedish record (former was from 1995 held by Sara Wedlund). With the sub-15 race Meraf made her big international breakthrough and immediately became one of the best long distance runners on European soil and a medal contender for future European Championships.
She moved from Eritrea to Sweden in 2008. In Sweden she has continued her running career, getting support from Ulf Friberg, the trainer ofMustafa Mohamed. Bahta got her permanent residency permit in 2012 and has applied for Swedish citizenship.[3] In December she got her citizenship and since 2014 she has been eligible to compete for Sweden in international championships.[4] She represented Sweden at the2016 Summer Olympics finishing 6th in the1500 m.
In 2014, she also wonTjejmilen.[5]
She finished 9th in the 1500m at the2017 World Athletics Championships.[6]
On 26 July 2018, Swedish newspaperAftonbladet reported that she was suspected of doping violations.[7]On 24 June 2019, it was announced that she had been suspended fordoping. The suspension period is partly retroactive, lasting from 1 September 2018 to 1 September 2019.[8]
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| 3000 m(1974–94) |
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|---|---|
| 5000 m(since 1998) |
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