10-year-old swimming boy dreams of golden future
(Reuters)Updated: 2006-12-08 10:04
DOHA - Iraq's Amer Ali knows he is unlikely to win any medals at the 15th Asian Games, but at only 10-years-old the schoolboy swimmer has time on his side.
 Iraq's Amer Ali, 10, smiles to the audience during the swimming finals at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 7, 2006. Ali is the games' youngest participant. [Reuters] |
The youngest competitor at the Doha Games says he is proud to represent his war-torn country and dreams of one day bringing home a gold medal.
"I'm happy to be here as the youngest person in these Games," he told reporters. "I'm doing this for Iraq and for the Iraqi people."
Ali recorded the best times of his short career in the 100m and 200m backstroke heats this week, and says competing alongside Japan's Olympic gold medallist Kosuke Kitajima or Pan Pacific champion Park Tae-hwan does not faze him.
"I want to be like them, I want to be a champion," he said.
"But it's difficult for our athletes to train. Many times, the police and the army don't allow us to leave our homes or move around freely."
Ali is one of three Iraqi swimmers in Doha, all of whom are under 15, and coach Mohamad Sarmad says he is immensely proud.
"It's good for us to compete here," he told Reuters. "When we are training in Baghdad it's too dangerous."
Preparations for the Games have not been easy. Sarmad said the team had competed only once in the last year at a competition in neighboring Kuwait.
Chronic power shortages have led to canceled training sessions at Baghdad's only functioning pool, and there is little in the new government's coffers to spend on sports.
"We cannot do this in Baghdad. Maybe the IOC can help send us to neighboring countries like Kuwait, Iran or Syria," he said.
"We want to win medals in the future, this is what keeps us going."
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