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A Runner Without a Country and Champion Debaters

He’s been dubbed the ‘runner without a country’ – Guor Marial is a 28-year-old marathon runner and refugee from the newly independent African nation of South Sudan. After Marial escaped Sudan as a child, he came to the United States and competed in cross country at Iowa State University. Though he’s a U.S. resident, he’s not a citizen and South Sudan does not yet have a national Olympic body, but after months of consideration, the International Olympic Committee ruled Marial could compete under the Olympic flag – joining three others who will do the same during the London games.

Then, Jeffrey Ding and Liam Hancock join the conversation. The two are recent graduates and policy debaters at West High School in Iowa City. The two discuss their victories in the "Tournament of Champions", the most prestigious high school debate tournament in the nation.

Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River