http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7493076.stm

The BBC's Against the Odds series is following athletes heading to the Olympics despite huge obstacles.

Guy De Launey meets a Cambodian runner so poor he lives in the crumbling athletics stadium where he trains.

Hem Bunting proudly fishes his medals out of one of a line of narrow, wooden lockers. One is silver, the other is bronze, and they confirm his status as one of the best distance runners in Southeast Asia.

At the SEA Games in Thailand last year, only one man could beat Bunting in the marathon. Just two finished ahead of him in the 5,000m.

Soon he will represent Cambodia at the Olympic marathon in Beijing, one of just four athletes in his country's Olympic team.

Living in stadium

It is amazing that Bunting has come so far.

As he sits down on his simple wooden bed, with a mosquito net nailed above, he casts his eyes down the room. There are dozens of similar beds with barely enough room to walk between them.

This is where Cambodia's elite athletes live, all together in an improvised dormitory overlooking the swimming pool at Phnom Penh's crumbling Olympic Stadium.

Bunting says the living arrangements leave a lot to be desired.

"Sometimes my team-mates come back late at night when I am trying to get some rest," he complains.

Perhaps it would not be so bad if the morning starts were not so early. The sun has yet to rise when Bunting makes his way down to the dirt track to start his warm-up routine.

Second class citizens

Sometimes he restricts himself to laps around the perimeter.

That, however, is not ideal preparation for a marathon runner - especially as he has to swerve round crowds of early-morning exercisers shuffling round the track.

"There are too many people around," says Bunting. "I'm always having to slow down and swerve around them."

The elite athletes say they are often treated as second-class citizens by staff at the stadium.

On one recent morning they arrived to find the gates locked, and they were told they would have to train somewhere else.

The coaches were just as outraged as their charges - and, grim-faced, continued their track drills after everyone had squeezed through a gap in the perimeter fence.

No money for shoes

Bunting and his training partner Cheng Chandara mutter that it all boils down to cash.

The Olympic athletes all live in a dilapidated stadium

If athletics were a rich sport, they reckon, they would not be facing these problems.

The lack of finance, however, is a recurring theme in any conversation with Cambodia's best Olympic hope.

He receives an allowance of less than $50 a month which leaves him hard-pressed to cover his basic living expenses.

A pair of running shoes costs around double that amount, and with no corporate sponsorship Bunting finds it tough to buy the equipment he needs.

The average Cambodian earns $380 per year, so Hem's relatives can only provide moral support - and even then, from a distance.

Traffic-choked streets

Bunting is one of nine children from a farming family in the remote province of Stung Treng, where sports officials spotted his talent at a provincial event and brought him to the capital.

Hem Bunting is sometimes given traditional acupuncture

Now he pounds the traffic-choked streets around Phnom Penh in the run-up to the Olympics.

With no large, green spaces in the city, putting the miles in means sucking up red dust and exhaust fumes from the lorries and SUV's which thunder past, and dodging the motorbikes driving the wrong way up the gutter.

At least it means that, unlike some famous marathon runners, Bunting has no concerns about pollution levels in Beijing.

With the Games just over the horizon, government officials and business people alike have started to wake up to the plight of the Olympian in their midst.

Several have pledged three-figure sums to Bunting to help with his equipment costs.

And despite all the hardship, Bunting is proud to be representing Cambodia.

"This is a wonderful thing that I can do for my country," he smiles. "Nobody else can do it - only me."

What do you think of Hem's story? Do you have any questions for him in Beijing. Do you know anyone heading to the Olympics "Against the Odds"? Send us your comments using the forms below.

This is so cool! I'm very happy to know that Cambodia has an athlete in the Olympics. Jayo to Mr. Bunting. I like how he sported those "jokk kyol" on his backs. Khmer Pride all the way! Jayo!

good luck to Hem and god speed! 

It is too bad that Atheletes are treated as 2nd class citizen. 

I would like to know where can I send him some money so he can get a good running shoes?  Where is he at, I can get the money delivered to him before the olympic

Best of luck to Hem Bunting and Cambodia in the marathon at Beijing!

Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Take A Look At Him Vividly, You Lookin At Your Own Worst Enemy

"This is a wonderful thing that I can do for my country," he smiles. "Nobody else can do it - only me." Hem Bunting.

 BBC World kept on showing these words over and over again yesterday.

 I only wish Mr. Bunting came across as more humble.

 Unfortunately, Mr. Bunting came across as conceited.

the same thought ran through my head when i read those words, but i understand many in Cambodia don't have the privilege of a decent education that build character.

 Thanks for your comment, Jmon.

 IMO, many Cambodians suffer from the Ah Kwak syndrome, i.e. “in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king” combined with the “Kaat Knong Kaam” syndrome.

 Because the competition is quite weak and expectations are quite low, any achievement gives the “outstanding” achiever a disproportionate sense of self-importance and achievement that is commendable by Cambodian standards (and that includes overseas Khmers) but ordinary or at best above average by international standards. The "overachiever" has an irresistible need to tell the whole world over and over again how great he/she is.

 However, God forbid should anyone point this out and the object of everyone’s admiration would be so offended that the “negative” relativist could become an instant enemy

IMO, those many Cambodians include some overseas Khmers who benchmark themselves against Khmers.

K15 can you find out where this man lives for me? I don't want to stalk him. Just send him a nice pair of running shoes. KSaron doesn't want to get involved because of previous problems so he is reluctant to assist me.

Congratulations Mr. Hem!  This is awesome!

Best of Luck to all athletes representing Cambodia! 

 Hello Sui_generis,

Sorry but I would prefer not to have anything to do with someone as arrogant as Mr. Bunting.

However, you could contact these people but don't be surprised if the good running shoes you are thinking of sending end up being sold (by someone other than Mr. Bunting) at Phsar Sorya for half the price you paid in the US.

 The Khmer sportsmen many Cambodians (including myself) most admire are these handicapped volley-ball players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf_u-kzo4bs

http://www.lannonharley.com/cnvld/index.html

http://www.onasia.com/content/story.aspx?storyID=520&page=1

http://www.standupcambodia.net/

Cambodia’s National Team came third in the World Cup held in Cambodia in November 2007 and was within reach of beating the world champions, Germany.

Most of these volleyball players are humble and deserve to be encouraged and supported.

In all honesty K15, do you think our efforts to raise money for Mr. Bunting is really worth it?

I admire those handicapped volleyball players. Perhaps funding for them is more worthy. I don't know the inside details of their lives or their personality but certainly these people represent our country and bring forth a more exposure on hidden talents there.

Hello Sui_Generis,

 I was not aware of any fund raiser for Mr. Bunting.

 Whether or not it’s worth it is up to the fund raisers and donors.

 Speaking for myself, I have supported and will continue to support theCambodian National Volleyball League (Disabled)

http://www.standupcambodia.net/

 The life stories of these players are heroic stories of struggle against all odds which have inspired so many Khmers,  physically handicapped or not.

hi lok Khemara,

i read your comments.  i must say that i think you're too quick to pass a judgement on this individual, his character.  ...

but i think though.... long distance running takes a lot of perseverance, endurance, and overcoming tough mental challenges...

can we cut this kid a slack.  his running time 2:26, he certainly should be proud of his accomplishment.  i think lance armstrong's running time in the boston marathon is 2:50. oh my god, Bunting beats lance.  lol

bye

 a fellow Cambodian comment to BBC:

to BBC news:

Against all odds, Hem is in inspiration to both Khmer youths in Cambodia and abroad who feel they have 'nothing.' Here in the US, there are unfortunately young Khmer American youths (many born here) who are running the wrong paths in society. If only they would stop to take in stories like Hem's, they may someday realize how fortunate they are.

Hello Neak Neang Pukeko,

Thank you for your comments.

You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine.

Ok. So Mr. Bunting's time is faster than Lance Armstrong's. So what?

Hun Sen is much more intelligent than GW.

It does not make Hun Sen any less arrogant or contemptible.

A few years ago, in kc, to the chagrin of at least one kcer in Washington State, I made similar comments about the Cambodian who won the Silver or bronze Medal in some science Olympiads in Jakarta and who said how proud he was of himself.

Egotism is egotism.

The "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king" Ah kwak syndrome and the "Kaat Knong Kaorm" syndrome are real and do plague Cambodian society and Cambodian communities abroad.

Easy "rah rah" accolades bestowed upon people like Mr. Bunting help to ingrain these syndromes in the Cambodian psyche and nurture a culture of mediocrity and easy arrogance.