Roberto Mandje

Biography

Roberto Mandje (born 7 March 1982) is an Olympic middle-distance and long-distance runner. Born in Spain, to Equatorial Guinean parents, Roberto lived in Barcelona until the age of 5, when he and his mother moved to Equatorial Guinea. After his mother remarried, Roberto's name was changed to Roberto Caracciolo. His stepfather, a diplomat, moved the family to several countries around Africa. Following his parents' divorce, Roberto and his mother relocated to New York, where he attended high school and college. Mandje ran the steeplechase for the University of Albany track and field team. In 2004, Mandje qualified for the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase, representing Equatorial Guinea at the Athens Olympic Games. During the first-round heat of the 1500m, which included world record-holder Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco (the eventual Olympic champion), Roberto was tripped early in the race. Despite injuring his ankle, he finished in a time of 4:03.37.

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