11 Aug 2016
Rio, 11 August 2016. On Friday, 4:10pm, Aspire Academy graduate Abubaker Haydar starts in Round 1 of the Men’s 800m event at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. For the 19-year-old, who qualified for Rio at 2016 IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha, it’s the biggest stage he has ever been on so far. In the following interview the Qatari athlete talks about the goals for his first Olympics, his time at Aspire Academy and the plans for his future career.
In your first ever Olympics what targets are you setting yourself ahead of the games?
My priority in Rio is to represent Qatar in the best way I can. Since these are the first Olympic Games I am participating I am also focusing on getting more experience, which will help me at the upcoming major championships. From a sporting perspective I want to improve my personal record over 800 meters.
How much a dream come true was qualifying for Rio Olympics?
It was a dream came true. It’s still hard to put in words how I felt after I qualified at the Doha Diamond League, but everyone could see how happy I was after the race. It all happened so fast. Just a year ago I graduated from Aspire Academy, shortly before that I decided for myself to continue my sporting career as a full-time athlete and worked out my next goals.
How much of this achievement is down to your time at Aspire Academy?
Aspire Academy is where everything started, it taught me everything. It gave my athletic career the foundation, my skills and abilities were honed by the great champions that coached me there. I would not have been able to reach this level without Aspire Academy and I will never forget that.
What was the biggest change for you when you got out of the Academy and joined Qatar’s athletics national team?
Aspire prepared me well for running at an elite level, so it did not really feel like a big change to me. An athletic career is a process and Aspire Academy is part of mine. I believe their involvement in the development of young athletes will give many promising athletes in Qatar a head-start and the basis for a successful career. I really want to thank Aspire Academy and everyone who supported me to make it to Rio and to become the person and athlete I am today.
What are your hopes for the future and how many more Olympic games would you like to make before you end your athletic career?
Rio is my first Olympics and my 20th birthday is in September, so two more Olympic Games would be fantastic. Until then I still have a long way to go, but I am going to continue to work hard in order to become better.
Follow Abubaker Haydar in Rio:
Friday, August 12: 800m RI, 10:10am, 4:10pm (Qatar)
Saturday, August 13: 800m Semi-Final, 22:05 (Brazil), 4:05am (Qatar)
Monday, August 15: 800m Final, 22:25pm (Brazil), 4:25am (Qatar)