But a non-profit humanitarian organization based in Murray was cheering for her at the Beijing Olympics as if she was wearing the red, white and blue.

One of the best distance runners in the world, Defar is the honorary director of an Ethiopian dance troupe that will send seven girls to perform in Salt Lake City next month to benefit the Children of Ethiopia Education Fund. The organization provides educational assistance to more than 1,000 girls in Ethiopia and Tanzania, according to founder and chairman Norm Perdue.

The dancers will perform at the Rose Wagner theater Sept. 13, and Defar is expected to join them - perhaps as the two-time Olympic gold medalist in the women's 5,000 meters.

Defar was scheduled to defender her Olympic title in the event early Friday, Utah time, and she's among the favorites for gold, along with countrywoman and world record-holder Tirunesh Dibaba.