BURNABY, B.C. - It's been a three and half year process, but Simon Fraser's (B.C.) Ruky Abdulai is now officially a Canadian citizen. At a ceremony earlier this morning (Jan. 31) in downtown Vancouver, the fourth year Simon Fraser University Clan track and field star and Coquitlam resident was sworn in by Immigration Canada, and now has the possibility of competing for Canada at the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China.

Abdulai's personal best of 6.70m in the long jump, set at the 2007 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, would have broken the current Canadian record of 6.66m, set by Nicole Devonish in 1996, had she been Canadian at the time.

"It feels so good, I am so proud to today to say I am a Canadian," said an ecstatic Abdulai, who now truly is a Canadian after spending the rest of the morning waiting in line at the passport office.

"It's been a long journey, from applying for landed immigrant status and reading all of the rules and then following all the rules and procedures, it just means so much to me. I am so grateful to be surrounded by such nice people, from Brit [SFU head track and field coach Brit Townsend] and the coaching staff, to all the people at SFU, to all of my family and friends who have helped me along the way, I really am grateful."