Emirati swimmer Yousuf Al Matrooshi is ready for the Tokyo Olympics, the entry to which is an achievement in itself for the teenager.
Having received a wildcard to compete in the 100-metre freestyle, Al Matrooshi is relishing the opportunity to compete alongside the world’s elite at the Games from July 23 to August 8.
The event was pushed back by a year following the coronavirus outbreak and it certainly is going to be an exceptional Olympics due to the safety protocols and absence of spectators.
“I’m super excited to get this opportunity, to be at the Olympics representing my country in the greatest sporting spectacle in the world,” Al Matrooshi told The National.
“I am fortunate to receive the wildcard. So I am already in a good position and I want to go out there and do my best. This obviously is a great platform as I have plans to take this experience forward.”
Al Matrooshi, 18, was also handed a wildcard to compete in the 100m freestyle at the Fina World Championships (short course) at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island later this year from December 15-21.
“The Olympics is an experience that I can take forward to the Worlds and compete in front of my people, family and friends,” he said.
“In Tokyo, I will try to do my best. My goal there would be to try and qualify to the next round, and then take it forward from there. It would be great if I can make it to the semi-finals, hopefully.”
Al Matrooshi was nine when he enrolled at Al Wasl Club in Dubai for his first swimming lessons.
“Actually I accompanied my mother to the club to enrol for football,” he said. “I still remember I wore a Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United shirt and was thrilled that I was going to play football.
“However, the technical committee at the club, after assessing my physique, advised my mother to try me in swimming. I was lean and tall even at that time.
“My mother was a bit adamant but the officials convinced her somehow, so she reluctantly agreed. I enjoyed my first few weeks in the pool and here I am now.
“Nine years on from that time, here I am preparing for the Olympics and the Worlds. There have been ups and downs in my journey but I’m very optimistic about the future, Insha Allah.”
It would be great if I can make it to the semi-finals, hopefully
Al Matrooshi
Al Matrooshi has just completed high school and has applied to universities in the United States to pursue a degree in computer science and also continue with high performance training in swimming.
“I have done well in academics all through and carried myself well outside the pool. I am always blessed. Alhamdulillah,” he said.
“I completed high school four weeks ago and am hoping to join a university in America to continue my studies and my swimming. While pursuing swimming, I want to do my major in computer science in the US.”
Al Matrooshi first came under the spotlight when he broke the national age group record in 100m butterfly that stood for over 23 years.
“That’s the time I thought I had a future in swimming,” he said. “I continued with my training with the hope of achieving something in the sport, and now I’m here talking about the Olympics and the Fina Worlds.”
A gold medal in 100m freestyle at the Gulf Championship in Kuwait in 2019 remains Al Matrooshi’s best result so far. He has also competed at the Asian Age Group Championships in Uzbekistan in 2017, Fina World Junior Swimming Championships in Hungary and the Arab Championships in Morocco, both in 2019, and the Egyptian National Championships this April.
“Every international competition has been an experience for me and I’m very fortunate to be at the Olympics followed by the Fina Worlds. This really is beyond my imaginations,” Al Matrooshi said.
“The Olympics and the Worlds are the dreams of any athlete and I feel I’m blessed to participate at both these events. My focus has now been only the Olympics from the time I was told of the wildcards.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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Common%20symptoms%20of%20MS
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
%3Cp%3E%E2%97%8F%20Estijaba%20helpline%3A%208001717%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20and%20Prevention%20hotline%3A%20045192519%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Mental%20health%20support%20line%3A%20800%204673%20(Hope)%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20at%20hope.hw.gov.ae%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
UAE and Russia in numbers
UAE-Russia ties stretch back 48 years
Trade between the UAE and Russia reached Dh12.5 bn in 2018
More than 3,000 Russian companies are registered in the UAE
Around 40,000 Russians live in the UAE
The number of Russian tourists travelling to the UAE will increase to 12 percent to reach 1.6 million in 2023
THE%20SWIMMERS
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Second Test, Day 2:
South Africa 335 & 75/1 (22.0 ov)
England 205
South Africa lead by 205 runs with 9 wickets remaining
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.
People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.
There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.
The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
FIGHT INFO
Men’s 60kg Round 1:
Ahmad Shuja Jamal (AFG) beat Krisada Takhiankliang (THA) - points
Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) beat Akram Alyminee (YEM) - retired Round 1
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Bhanu Pratap Pandit (IND) - TKO Round 1
Men’s 71kg Round 1:
Seyed Kaveh Soleyman (IRI) beat Abedel Rahman (JOR) - RSC round 3.
Amine Al Moatassime (UAE) walk over Ritiz Puri (NEP)
The Gandhi Murder
- 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
- 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
- 7 - million dollars, the film's budget
The%C2%A0specs%20
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