09 Aug 2012
Doha, Qatar (August 8, 2012) – He has cleared 2.29 meters on countback in the world’s greatest sporting event, but the medal-clinching act at the London Olympic Games by former Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence student Motaz Barsham has also pushed Qatar to soar to new heights in the global sport arena.
The 21-year-old Barsham won a bronze medal for Qatar on Tuesday (August 7) in Olympic track-and-field in what is a testament to the country's investment in producing a future generation of sportspersons paying envious dividends.
“I’m so happy that I won an Olympic medal. I’ve worked so hard for this. It was really tough,” said the Academy graduate, who was also the 2010 IAAF World Junior champion and winner of gold in men’s high jump in the 2011 Arab Games in Doha.
A role model since graduating from Aspire Academy, Barsham is considered a torchbearer for all Aspire students and graduates, which has been working to become one of the foremost national sports academies in the world since opening its doors in 2004.
The athlete showed promising signs of a win after he entered the final by clearing 2.26m in his second attempt.
Expressing his joy at the win, Qatar Olympic Committee secretary general, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said: “We dedicate this win to HH the Emir and the Heir Apparent. They’ve laid great emphasis on sports for years and we see the positive results now. Motaz did extremely well. I congratulate the athletics officials who’ve been working hard to get the athletes in good shape.”
The medal is a second for Qatar in London after Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah snatched a bronze in skeet last week and led a delegate full of prospects, including Qatar’s first-ever female swimmer to Olympics. Extending his congratulations to Barsham, a delighted Aspire Academy director general Ivan Bravo said: “It is a time of great pride for the sports family of Qatar.
The achievement of Motaz is an inspiration for all. His success is the result of his drive and perseverance. Congratulations to him, his family and all the coaches and educators who have supported him over the years. Motaz’s success is also a tribute to the visionary leadership of this country who provide a beacon of opportunity and motivation for aspiring champions.”
In addition to it being one of the world’s leading sports institutes, the Aspire Academy – part of the Aspire Zone Foundation – seeks to promote an active sporting healthy lifestyle through specific community programs: Aspire Active, Aspire Multisport Skill Development Program, and Aspire Football Dreams.