Arabs at the Olympics
Winter sports may not be that big of a “thing” here, but that doesn’t mean we can’t breed tried and true Winter Olympians. Meet the Arabs at this year’s Sochi Olympics – all four them – so you know who to cheer for:
LEBANON
Sport: Alpine Skiing
Born: Beirut, Lebanon
Age: 18 years old
“Skiing, although I am passionate, takes second place to my studies because I am aware that in Lebanon… it is not the ideal country to try to be a great champion. Snow is present only for two, maximum three months. The rest of the time we absolutely cannot ski, so training seriously is not an option, unless I travel or settle elsewhere.”
Sport: Alpine Skiing
Born: Dar El Kamar, Lebanon
Age: 22 years old
“It was positive for me. I don’t regret it at all… When I started my job, for example, people when they search for me on the web sometimes they can see these pictures directly so you think maybe it’s not the best thing, not the best image you can give someone of you. But, I don’t really care. I really enjoyed it and I don’t regret it. I like these photos. I have no problem with it.”
MOROCCO
Sport: Alpine Skiing
Born: Boston, U.S.A.
Age: 18 years old
“Hard work pays off.”
Sport: Alpine Skiing
Born: Montreal, Canada
Age: 18 years old
“I wanted to prove that Moroccans can ski well, and I proved it [in Innsbruck]. This represents that in life you can do everything – never give up. And now I have made it to the big stage in Sochi.”
WE SAID THIS: Inspired to take up a winter sport? Don’t miss our guide to “Skiing in the Region“.
