Sport | Other Sports
Mellouli dreams big for Arab world
If there is one thing foremost on his mind, it is the summer of 2010. And if there is one place that he would love to be, it is the top spot on the podium during the course of the 10th Fina World Swimming Championships (25m) to be staged in Dubai in 2010.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:49 September 8, 2008
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
- Looking forward to Dubai eventMellouli has spent a major part of his life in the US while pursuing his career in swimming. The Tunisian swimmer rocked the sporting world when he powered his way to the gold medal in the 1500 metres freestyle at the Beijing Olympics last month.
Dubai: If there is one thing foremost on his mind, it is the summer of 2010. And if there is one place that he would love to be, it is the top spot on the podium during the course of the 10th Fina World Swimming Championships (25m) to be staged in Dubai in 2010.
"The Olympics was a dream come true, but I would love to go one better at the Fina World Championships right here," Tunisia's Olympic gold medallist in Beijing, Osama Mellouli told Gulf News.
Mellouli was one of the top sportsmen invited to attend Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain's 'Auction of Hope' at the Madinat Jumeirah late on Sunday.
"For me it is such a great honour to be here. I have chalked out my programme for the next few years and Dubai is at the top of my priorities as this is where I want to win and make everyone proud," Mellouli stated.
The Tunisian swimmer rocked the sporting world when he powered his way to the gold medal in the 1500 metres freestyle at the Beijing Olympics last month.
Great achievement
This was a great achievement as his gold medal was one of the two won by athletes from the Arab world. By winning in Beijing, Mellouli became the first Arab to claim a swimming gold at an Olympic Games, where only six Arab countries made it to the podium.
Among the competitions Mellouli is targeting the 13th Fina World Championships in Rome next year (July 18-August 2) followed by the 9th African Swimming Championships in Johannesburg, South Africa (December 1-7) and the Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy (end of January 2009).
"But if there is one event I am excited about, then it is the 10th Fina World Swimming Championships to be staged right here in 2010," Mellouli stated.
Dubai officially won the bid to stage the prestigious Fina competition more than two years ago. Fina, the world governing body for swimming, announced that Dubai will host the 10th Fina World Swimming Championships (25m) in Dubai from April 7-11, 2010. Fina is expecting swimmers from at least 200 countries to participate in the Dubai championships.
"This will be the first time ever that the Arab world will be hosting such a prestigious competition and there will be no bigger joy than shining on the world stage right here. Just participating here will boost my energy and goad me on to the best," Mellouli said.
The Tunisian has spent a major part of his life in the US while pursuing his career in swimming. "But I am a Tunisian and I have Arab blood running in my veins. So what if I have been training in the US, there are another 60 million who are also training there," Mellouli stated.
"My Olympic medal is a gift for Tunisia and for the entire Arab world because I carry the aspirations of my people," he added.
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