The lack of finance is a recurring theme in conversation with Cambodia's athletes
The lack of finance is a recurring theme in conversation with Cambodia's athletes
The BBC's Against the Odds series is following athletes heading to the Olympics despite huge obstacles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Living in stadium
It is amazing that Bunting has come so far.
It is amazing that Bunting has come so far.
Hem Bunting Best time in the marathon is 2:26:28 (World record, 2:04:26)Aged 22; Weight 56kg; Height 1.67m In action on Sunday 24 August, 0030 GMT
Hem Bunting Best time in the marathon is 2:26:28 (World record, 2:04:26)Aged 25; Weight 56kg; Height 1.67m In action on Sunday 24 August, 0030 GMT
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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
Second class citizens
Sometimes he restricts himself to laps around the perimeter.
Sometimes he restricts himself to laps around the perimeter.
Hem has to deal with heavy traffic on his training runs
Hem has to deal with heavy traffic on his training runs
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.
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."
"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.
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.
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.
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
No money for shoes
Bunting and his training partner Cheng Chandara mutter that it all boils down to cash.
Bunting and his training partner Cheng Chandara mutter that it all boils down to cash.
The Olympic athletes all live in a dilapidated stadium
The Olympic athletes all live in a dilapidated stadium
If athletics were a rich sport, they reckon, they would not be facing these problems.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Cambodia's best Olympic hope says money - or lack of it - is his main problem
Hem Bunting is sometimes given traditional acupuncture
Now he pounds the traffic-choked streets around Phnom Penh in the run-up to the Olympics.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
"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.
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.
