Pur Biel made an impact at Iowa Central in both athletics and academics. 

And while remaining a student-athlete, Biel is even more. 

Biel, who ran for the Iowa Central cross country and track programs, has served as a United Nationals Refugee Goodwill Ambassador during the recent Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

A native of Kenya, Biel earned his associate degree in Social Science at Iowa Central. He is currently working towards his Bachelor of International Relations at Drake University while also running for the Bulldogs. 

Biel has been a board member of the Olympic Refuge Foundation since 2017 and was part of the first-ever IOC Refugee Olympic team in 2016 during the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

During those Games, Biel made history by competing for the first Refugee Olympic team in the 800-meter race.   

"It is an honor to be a Goodwill Ambassador for the refugees," Biel said during an interview with KCCI before he left. "Going there as a Goodwill Ambassador is to open further up for the young people. 

"And know that something can happen for them because I never believe something could happen for me to become a Goodwill Ambassador."

"It's not only about the refugees," he said. "About the world. How can we transform this world?"

-By Dana Becker