# Meraf Bahta > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Meraf_Bahta > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Meraf_Bahta.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meraf_Bahta > Source revision: 1317996732 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Eritrean middle-distance runner|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{MedalTableTop|image=Podium 5000m women Zurich 2014.jpg|imagesize=280px|sport=Women's [athletics](/source/Athletics_(sport))|country_code=SWE|medals= {{Medal|Competition|[European Championships](/source/European_Athletics_Championships)}} {{Medal|Gold|[2014 Zürich](/source/2014_European_Athletics_Championships)|[5000 m](/source/2014_European_Athletics_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_5000_metres)}} {{Medal|Silver|[2016 Amsterdam](/source/2016_European_Athletics_Championships)|[5000 m](/source/2016_European_Athletics_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_5000_metres)}} {{Medal|Competition|[European Cross Country Championships](/source/European_Cross_Country_Championships)}} {{Medal|Silver|[2017 Šamorín](/source/2017_European_Cross_Country_Championships)|[Senior race](/source/2017_European_Cross_Country_Championships)}} {{Medal|Bronze|[2014 Samokov](/source/2014_European_Cross_Country_Championships)|[Senior race](/source/2014_European_Cross_Country_Championships)}} }} '''Meraf Bahta Ogbagaber''' (born 24 June 1989) is a Swedish [middle-distance runner](/source/middle-distance_runner). She represents Sweden in international competitions and specializes in the [1500 metres](/source/1500_metres) and [3000 metres](/source/3000_metres). ==Biography== She was born in [Dekishahay](/source/Dekishahay) (at the time still part of [Ethiopia](/source/Ethiopia)). As a junior, she competed in the junior races at the [IAAF World Cross Country Championships](/source/IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships), finishing twelfth in [2006](/source/2006_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships) and sixth in [2007](/source/2007_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships). 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 the [2006 World Junior Championships](/source/2006_World_Junior_Championships_in_Athletics).{{World Athletics}} At the [2007 All-Africa Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_2007_All-Africa_Games) she finished seventh in the 5000 metres.{{Cite web|url=http://www.coja2007.dz/portail/programme/Results.html?discipId=ath&compId=COMP27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928023254/http://www.coja2007.dz/portail/programme/Results.html?discipId=ath&compId=COMP27|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-09-28|title=:: COJA 2007 :: Site Officiel des 9 èmes jeux africains - Alger du 11 AU 23 juillet 2007|date=2007-09-28|access-date=2018-04-09}} She competed in her first senior cross-country race at the [2008 World Cross Country Championships](/source/2008_IAAF_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 in [Heusden-Zolder](/source/Heusden-Zolder); and 14:59.49 minutes in the 5000 metres, achieved in July 2014 in [Palo Alto](/source/Palo_Alto), USA. 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 of [Mustafa Mohamed](/source/Mustafa_Mohamed). Bahta got her permanent residency permit in 2012 and has applied for Swedish citizenship.{{Cite web|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=125&artikel=5560289|title=Meraf Bahta springer för medborgarskap och VM - P4 Väst|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|date=10 June 2013 |language=sv|access-date=2018-04-09}} In December she got her citizenship and since 2014 she has been eligible to compete for Sweden in international championships.{{Cite web|url=http://www.friidrott.se/nyheter.aspx?id=16099|title=:: friidrott.se :: - Nyheter & Artiklar|website=www.friidrott.se|access-date=2018-04-09}} She represented Sweden at the [2016 Summer Olympics](/source/2016_Summer_Olympics) finishing 6th in the [1500 m](/source/Athletics_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_1500_metres). In 2014, she also won [Tjejmilen](/source/Tjejmilen).{{cite web|url=http://www.svt.se/sport/friidrott/bahta-overlagsen-i-tjejmilen|title=Bahta överlägsen i Tjejmilen|publisher=SVT Sport|language=Swedish|date=6 September 2014|accessdate=6 September 2014}} She finished 9th in the 1500m at the [2017 World Athletics Championships](/source/2017_World_Athletics_Championships).{{Cite web|url=https://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-championships/iaaf-world-championships-london-2017-5151/results/women/1500-metres/final/result|title=IAAF: 1500 Metres Result {{!}} IAAF World Championships London 2017 {{!}} iaaf.org|website=iaaf.org|access-date=2018-04-09}} == Doping suspension == On 26 July 2018, Swedish newspaper ''[Aftonbladet](/source/Aftonbladet)'' reported that she was suspected of doping violations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/a/Mg8oVB/dopningsbrott-skakar-landslaget--riskerar-avstangning|title = Friidrottsstjärnan Meraf Bahta i blåsväder – har missat tre dopningskontroller| date=26 July 2018 }} On 24 June 2019, it was announced that she had been suspended for [doping](/source/doping_in_sport). The suspension period is partly retroactive, lasting from 1 September 2018 to 1 September 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/friidrott/just-nu-meraf-bahta-stangs-av/|title=Meraf Bahta stängs av|publisher=Expressen|language=Swedish|author=Jacob Johannesson, Petter Landén|date=24 June 2019|accessdate=13 July 2019}} ==Achievements== {| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}} |- !colspan="6"|Representing {{ERI}} |- |2005 |[World Cross Country Championships](/source/2005_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships) |[Saint-Galmier](/source/Saint-Galmier), [France](/source/France) |32nd |[Junior race](/source/2005_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships_%E2%80%93_Junior_women's_race) |22:43 |- |rowspan=2|2006 |[World Junior Championships](/source/2006_World_Junior_Championships_in_Athletics) |[Beijing](/source/Beijing), [China](/source/China) |5th |1500 m |4:16.01 |- |[World Cross Country Championships](/source/2006_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships) |[Fukuoka](/source/Fukuoka), [Japan](/source/Japan) |12th |[Junior race](/source/2006_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships_%E2%80%93_Junior_women's_race) |20:22 |- |rowspan=3|2007 |[World Cross Country Championships](/source/2007_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships) |[Mombasa](/source/Mombasa), [Kenya](/source/Kenya) |6th |[Junior race](/source/2007_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships_%E2%80%93_Junior_women's_race) |21:24 |- |rowspan=2|[All-Africa Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_2007_All-Africa_Games) |rowspan=2|[Algiers](/source/Algiers), [Algeria](/source/Algeria) |9th |[1500 m](/source/Athletics_at_the_2007_All-Africa_Games_%E2%80%93_Women's_1500_metres) |4:15.12 |- |7th |[5000 m](/source/Athletics_at_the_2007_All-Africa_Games_%E2%80%93_Women's_5000_metres) |15:56.30 |- |2008 |[World Cross Country Championships](/source/2008_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships) |[Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh), [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain) |43rd |[Senior race](/source/2008_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships_%E2%80%93_Senior_women's_race) |27:31 |- !colspan="6"|Representing {{SWE}} |- |rowspan=2|2014 |[European Championships](/source/2014_European_Athletics_Championships) |[Zürich](/source/Z%C3%BCrich), [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland) |bgcolor=gold|1st |[5000 m](/source/2014_European_Athletics_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_5000_metres) |15:31.39 |- |[European Cross Country Championships](/source/2014_European_Cross_Country_Championships) |[Samokov](/source/Samokov), [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria) |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |Senior race |28:52 |- |rowspan=2|2016 |[European Championships](/source/2016_European_Athletics_Championships) |[Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam), [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands) |bgcolor=silver|2nd |[5000 m](/source/2016_European_Athletics_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_5000_metres) |15:20.54 |- |[Olympic Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_Summer_Olympics) |[Rio de Janeiro, Brazil](/source/Rio_de_Janeiro%2C_Brazil) |6th |[1500 m](/source/Athletics_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_1500_metres) |4:12.59 |- |rowspan=3|2017 |[European Indoor Championships](/source/2017_European_Athletics_Indoor_Championships) |[Belgrade, Serbia](/source/Belgrade%2C_Serbia) |4th |[1500 m](/source/2017_European_Athletics_Indoor_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_1500_metres) |4:07.90 |- |[World Championships](/source/2017_World_Championships_in_Athletics) |[London](/source/London), [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) |9th |[1500 m](/source/2017_World_Championships_in_Athletics_%E2%80%93_Women's_1500_metres) |4:04.76 |- |[European Cross Country Championships](/source/2017_European_Cross_Country_Championships) |[Šamorín](/source/%C5%A0amor%C3%ADn), [Slovakia](/source/Slovakia) |bgcolor=silver|2nd |Senior race |27:03 |- |rowspan=3|2018 |rowspan=2|[World Indoor Championship](/source/2018_IAAF_World_Indoor_Championships) |rowspan=2|[Birmingham, United Kingdom](/source/Birmingham%2C_United_Kingdom) |10th |[1500 m](/source/2018_IAAF_World_Indoor_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_1500_metres) |4:23.05 |- |12th |[3000 m](/source/2018_IAAF_World_Indoor_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_3000_metres) |9:05.94 |- |[European Championships](/source/2018_European_Athletics_Championships) |[Berlin, Germany](/source/Berlin%2C_Germany) |bgcolor=#F6CECE | DSQ |[10,000 m](/source/2018_European_Athletics_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_10%2C000_metres) |32:19.34 |- |rowspan=2|2021 |[European Indoor Championships](/source/2021_European_Athletics_Indoor_Championships) |[Toruń](/source/Toru%C5%84), [Poland](/source/Poland) |4th |[3000 m](/source/2021_European_Athletics_Indoor_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_3000_metres) |8:48.78 |- |[Olympic Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics) |[Tokyo, Japan](/source/Tokyo%2C_Japan) |18th |[10,000 m](/source/Athletics_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_10%2C000_metres) |32:10.49 |- |2022 |[World Indoor Championships](/source/2022_World_Athletics_Indoor_Championships) |[Belgrade, Serbia](/source/Belgrade%2C_Serbia) |17th |[3000 m](/source/2022_World_Athletics_Indoor_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_3000_metres) |8:58.68 |} ===Personal bests=== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;Outdoor * 1500 metres – 4:00.49 ([Brussels](/source/Brussels); 1 September 2017) * Mile – 4:25.26 ([Oslo](/source/Oslo); 9 June 2016) * 3000 metres – 8:37.50 ([Doha](/source/Doha); 21 July 2016) [NR](/source/List_of_Swedish_records_in_athletics) * 5000 metres – 14:49.95 ([Rabat](/source/Rabat); 22 May 2016) [NR](/source/List_of_Swedish_records_in_athletics) * 10,000 metres – 31:13.06 ([Palo Alto](/source/Palo_Alto); 5 May 2017) [NR](/source/List_of_Swedish_records_in_athletics) {{col-2}} ;Indoor * 1500 metres – 4:04.89 ([Toruń](/source/Toru%C5%84); 15 February 2018) * 3000 metres – 8:42.46 ([Madrid](/source/Madrid); 8 February 2018) [NR](/source/List_of_Swedish_records_in_athletics) {{col-end}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{Footer European Champions 5000 m Women}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bahta, Meraf}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Eritrean women long-distance runners Category:Swedish women long-distance runners Category:Eritrean women middle-distance runners Category:Swedish women middle-distance runners Category:European Athletics Championships medalists Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic athletes for Sweden Category:Swedish people of Eritrean descent Category:Swedish Athletics Championships winners Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Sweden Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2007 All-Africa Games Category:African Games competitors for Eritrea Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:European Athletics Championships winners Category:Doping cases in the sport of athletics Category:21st-century Swedish sportswomen --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Meraf Bahta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meraf_Bahta) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meraf_Bahta?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.