Nation’s sole 2016 Olympic Games medallist and the only Qatari ever to collect two Olympic medals, Mutaz Essa Barshim, along with his coach and mentor Stanis?aw Szczyrba, enjoyed a warm and historic welcome by the country’s leading sporting authorities upon their return to Doha.
Barshim was thrilled and overwhelmed by the emotional reception.
Qatar Olympic Committee vice-president Sheikh Saoud bin Ali al-Thani, Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) president Dahlan al-Hamad, QAF secretary general Mohamed Jassem al-Kuwari, and QAF assistant secretary general and Qatar’s first ever Olympic medallist Mohamed Suleiman were present at the Hamad International Airport to greet the nation’s hero.
Sheikh Saoud described Barshim’s achievements as huge, while al-Hamad praised the athlete’s overall exploits throughout all these years.
“We are privileged to have in our ranks such a rare talent like Mutaz. What he did in Rio was outstanding, but he is yet to reach his peak, therefore we all expect more medals and honours from him in the near future,” said al-Hamad.
Barshim, who ranked second in the men’s high jump Olympic final after a dramatic and close contest at Joao Havelange Olympic Stadium, as well as coach Szczyrba, were also the guests of honour at a banquet organised by QAF in Doha.
The curtain is about to fall on a long and demanding season which saw Barshim finish second at the Olympics and the Diamond Race, Abdalelah Haroun snatching a silver medal at the IAAF World Indoor Championships and nation’s young guns winning two gold and a bronze at the IAAF World Junior Championships. All athletes will now enjoy a short break and a few relaxing moments before they will put their training suits back on and commence their preparations towards the new challenges 2017 is about to bring out, with the IAAF World Championships in London being the pinnacle event of the upcoming season.