In 2016, the U.S. Department of State-sponsored ultra-marathon legend Dean Karnazes while running the ancient Silk Road.

Dean ran 525 kilometers in 11 days from Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Almaty, Kazakhstan as part of the Sports Envoy program, to mark the 25th anniversary of these countries’ independence from the Soviet Union.

Running an average of 50 miles per day, Dean connected with people along the way on behalf of the United States, conducting running clinics, giving talks, and inviting people of all ages to join him in fun runs.

Dean’s journey through Central Asia provided a unique opportunity to show the power of sports diplomacy in bringing people from different cultures and nationalities together.