Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
UAE women's cyclist Safia Al Sayegh concluded her participation in the road race event at the 33rd Olympics in Paris without achieving a result, as she did not complete the 158 km race, which saw the participation of 96 athletes.
The most prominent face of the national team, Al Sayegh expressed her wish that she could have completed the race and achieved a positive result. She was among 14 athletes who could not finish in a field of 92.
Kristen Faulkner of the United States took the gold medal in the road race event.
The Netherlands' Marianne Vos won a sprint finish against Belgium's Lotte Kopecky and Hungary's Blanka Vas for the silver medal. Kopecky won the UAE Tour Women earlier this year.
Despite the setback, Al Sayegh shared her happiness in participating at the Paris Games with sincere efforts. She extended her thanks to the UAE Cycling Federation and sponsors Team ADQ for their great support over the past period.
"I am happy with my first participation in the Olympic Games, which saw prior preparations and intense training efforts. From the moment my qualification was announced, I was determined to give my best in the Olympic event, as it is the most important and largest multi-sport event in the world, offering a unique opportunity every four years.
"Competing here requires a high level of readiness, especially considering the number of veteran athletes in this sport and specifically in the road race who competed strongly and delivered outstanding performances and results," she said.
She also noted that she has succeeded in recent years in changing the notion that competition and qualification for the Olympics are limited to athletes from certain countries.
She added, "I was delighted... proving that athletes from the Arab world have the ability to compete and qualify for the biggest sporting events. It is not limited to specific countries, despite the strong names of the participating athletes with long-standing experience in cycling.
"Every athlete faces tough times, but with determination and perseverance, we continue to strive to improve performance and achieve better results. The field remains open for more successes in the coming years.
"I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to my family for their encouragement and support at all times. They are the reason behind what I have achieved in cycling and for my recent selection for the Dubai Sports Council membership, which is a source of pride.
“I hope to contribute to the development of sports and benefit from diverse experiences as an athlete and in various areas of sports work in general."
