picture of Diane Nukuri
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Diane Nukuri's Story

Oct 1, 2009

Imagine being an Olympian at age 15. Imagine watching a man being shot and killed on your bus. Imagine travel across the world for competition at age 16.....and never coming home.

Thats just a piece of what Diane Nurki experienced at a young age in her native country of Burundi. Diane made a choice to level her family to escape the civil war in Burundi and give herself a chance at doing something with her life. She stayed in Canada where she didn't know the language, made it through high school learning french, and then was found by coach Layne Anderson who direct her to the states (where she again, did not know the language.

This month Diane is making her first trip back to Burundi since she left 8 years ago. She's a different person from what her family knew....a college grad, an all-american, speaks multiple languages, and now married. She's traveled down roads many of us could never imagine! Listen to Diane talk about seeing her family as she returns home.

Diane was an All-American at Iowa and finished 4th at the 2007 NCAA XC Championships where she was in good company finishing behind Sally Kipyego, Jenny Barringer, and Susan Kuijken.