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Manute BolSudanese basketball player and social activist
Date of Birth: 16.10.1962
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Manute Bol
Manute Bol was a Sudanese basketball player and activist, known for his exceptional height and his efforts to help his native Sudan.
Early Life
Manute Bol was born into the Dinka tribe as the son of a tribal leader. He came from a family of tall individuals, with his mother and sister standing at 6 feet 10 inches and his father at 6 feet 8 inches. Bol's great-grandfather was rumored to be a giant, standing at 7 feet 10 inches tall. Bol himself grew up to be 7 feet 7 inches tall.
Basketball Career
Bol began playing basketball in 1978 and played for the Sudanese teams "Wau" and "Khartoum" for several years. His talent caught the attention of a coach from Fairleigh Dickinson University, who convinced Bol to try his luck in the United States.
In the 1983 NBA Draft, Bol was selected by the San Diego Clippers in the fifth round, but the selection was later annulled due to league rules. He was later invited to join the Cleveland State University team, where he spent several months improving his English skills.
Bol eventually enrolled at the University of Bridgeport and played for their second division team from 1984 to 1985. Despite initial challenges with the language barrier, Bol's career began to flourish due to his exceptional defensive skills and long arms.
Humanitarian Work
Bol was not only known for his athletic achievements but also for his philanthropic work. He dedicated much of his earnings from his decade-long basketball career to rebuilding his war-torn homeland of Sudan. Bol regularly visited Sudanese refugee camps and was regarded as a respected figure there.
In 2001, Bol was offered the position of Minister of Sports in Sudan, but he declined due to the requirement of converting to Islam, as he was a devout Christian. The government later attempted to prevent Bol from leaving the country, accusing him of having connections with Christian rebels. With the support of Americans, including Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman, Bol managed to raise funds for a ticket to Cairo and negotiate his return to the United States.
Bol established the Ring True Foundation in 2002 to continue raising funds for Sudan. He donated a significant portion of his savings, totaling around three and a half million dollars, to the foundation. Bol also participated in the show "Celebrity Boxing" to raise awareness for his cause.
In April 2006, Bol joined the Sudan Freedom March, a three-week march from the United Nations building in New York to the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., organized by his friend Simon Deng. The march aimed to draw attention to the genocide in Darfur and the issue of modern-day slavery. Bol participated in the initial stages of the march in New York.
Later Life and Legacy
After facing political conflicts in Sudan, Bol returned to the United States in 2002 as a religious refugee and settled in West Hartford, Connecticut. In July 2004, he suffered a serious neck injury in a car accident and relocated to Olaf, Kansas, after recovering.
On June 19, 2010, Manute Bol passed away from acute kidney failure and complications related to Stevens-Johnson syndrome. He left behind a lasting legacy as both an exceptional basketball player and a dedicated humanitarian.
