The First Arab Who Won the Bronze Medal Is Not of Arab Descent

The Emirati Judoka, Sergiu Toma, originally born in Moldova, was dubbed the first Arab to win a medal in the Summer Olympic Games, held in Rio de Janeiro.

After he defeated his Italian opponent, Matteo Marconcini and got placed third in the -81kg weight class, he told the National, “I’m very proud to represent the UAE and win the medal for them; I want to thank all the people in Moldova and the Emirates for helping me with my career. I dedicate this to them and to my mentor.”

The 29-year-old judoka also said he would win the medal for the UAE rather than Moldova. Toma had been representing Moldova in world championships since 2007, last time he participated as a Moldovan was in Paris 2011. He is one of the three Moldovan-born Emiratis competing in Rio this year.

Facebook, of course, erupted with trolls

WE SAID THIS: People were not that negative when the German Zimmermann competed as Palestinian. Anyway, Mabrook Sergiu!