04 Aug 2016
Rio, 4 August 2016. Ahmed Bedir Magour was born on March 3rd, 1996 and picked up the javelin for the first time at the age of twelve (12) and has not dropped it since. Dedication and determination propelled the youngster who grew up with main stream sport like football to excel at a track and field event like javelin. Ahmed took to the throws almost naturally but settled for Javelin and driven by a strong desire to succeed he had risen to the top of the class for javelin by the time he graduated from Aspire Academy in 2015.
Ahmed benefited from his years at Aspire Academy where working with Academy coaches and Qatar Athletics Federation coaches he hone his skills and in his own words, “I found myself within reach of Olympic qualification distances and suddenly l had a target and goal to achieve”. Now back in his days at Aspire Academy, his teachers said this of Ahmed, “He is characterized by a constant pursuit of success and takes initiatives and demonstrates determination to fulfill his objectives.”
These words etched in the 2015 Aspire Academy graduation book next to Ahmed came true in the first week of July 2016 at the Hame Games in Finland. Ahmed threw 84.74m which assured qualification to represent Qatar at Rio 2016 Olympics. The Aspire graduate had done it and at 20 years and a year after leaving the Academy – he was heading to his first Olympic Games following the footsteps of his fellow 2015 Aspire Academy graduate, 800m runner Abubaker Haydar in completing this remarkable sporting achievement.
That evening in Riihimaki, in Finland when Ahmed qualified for Rio Olympics among the elated was his Qatar Athletics Federation coach, the former Finnish javelin thrower, Esa Utriainen who said of the moment, “Ahmed has worked really hard and truly deserves to qualify for the Olympics”.
Looking ahead to the competition in Rio itself, Ahmed is targeting making the finals in his event, “Every athlete dreams of gold in the Olympic Games and that’s exactly what l am looking for”. In Rio his main focus will, of course, be on his event javelin “But I am also looking forward to see the 100m men’s final and to the chance to see world record holders train.” Something that might be an extra motivation for Ahmed and that he is going to keep working hard. “Rio is my first Olympics and I am eager to keep pushing me and also be in the next three editions.”
Follow Ahmed Bedir Magour in Rio:
Wednesday, August 17: Javelin Q A or B, 20:30pm or 21:55pm (Brazil) / Thursday, August 18, 2:30am or 3:55am (Qatar)
Saturday, August 20: Javelin Final, 20:55pm (Brazil) / Sunday, August 21, 2:55am (Qatar)