‘That’s my second major goal. I have started preparing for Paris and
will continue to get ready for the challenge. Paris Games will be my 7th Olympics.
It’s not easy, but this year we will have a lot of preparation.
We will have a two-month training camp in Italy.
Having cemented his place as one of the all-time greats after his fifth Dakar Rally victory last week, Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah is in no mood to stop.
The 52-year-old racing legend, who is also equally good at shooting, has set his sights on winning gold at the Paris Olympics next year. Al-Attiyah has an Olympics bronze in skeet from the London Games in 2012. Now, the Qatari ace wants to stand on top of the podium in Paris, in what will be his seventh Olympics. With his unbreakable resolve, it would not be a surprise if he goes on to add another feat to his illustrious career.
“That’s my second major goal. I have started preparing for Paris and will continue to get ready for the challenge. Paris Games will be my 7th Olympics,” al-Attiyah said, in one of the many felicitations functions held in his honour after his return from Dakar triumph.
Al-Attiyah is an once-in-a-lifetime athlete, having shown his world class abilities in two different sports concurrently for over a decade. Admittedly, shooting is his second love as he devotes most of his time to racing. And al-Attiyah knows medalling at Olympics, that too gold, would be a gigantic challenge.
“It’s not easy, but this year we will have a lot of preparation. We will have a two-month training camp in Italy and then we will take part in the Asian Games, Asian Championships and the Arab Championships to continue our practice. Then next year we will focus more for the Olympic Games,” he noted.
Matching Ari Vatanen’s tally of Dakar wins put him in the same bracket as Dakar legends, but number five sets al-Attiyah apart as the second-most successful driver in the car category behind Stephane Peterhansel – who has eight.
In the unforgiving Saudi terrain over a fortnight, al-Attiyah showed his tactical acumen as well his mastery behind the wheels even as his main rivals tumbled one by one. Al-Attiyah’s team principal at Toyota Gazoo Racing Glyn Hall summed up the Qatari character perfectly recently. “There are so many different elements of Nasser,” Hall said. “He is tough. I think the softest part of Nasser is his teeth!”
For al-Attiyah though, it is all about determination and willingness to stay on top of his game – whether it may be racing or shooting. “I love my sport and I always try to be on top,” the soft-spoken al-Attiyah says with his trademark smile. “Hard work is a result of where I am now. There is no other way to achieve success. I am thankful to Qatar (government) for all the support I get for my sport. I always look to do best for my country,” he says modestly.
“When I see everyone around me, it’s a nice feeling. I always dream and work to be the number one to raise the Qatar flag. You have to be strong in the things you know and enjoy it. If you love to do something, do it properly, this is what I am trying to do and getting success. I get a lot of support from everyone here in Qatar and the Middle East also which keeps me going. This is a really nice, nice feeling. I will try to do my best to be the number one and raise the Qatar flag in the world.”
Al-Attiyah aims to break the record of eight titles in the car category held by Frenchman Peterhansel. “I am really setting this target. The target to break the record for eight titles. I have won five now and I have a long mission. I hope I will be able to achieve the target. Inshallah, I will try my best to keep going in this class,” he said.
Al-Attiyah, who also has 18 Middle East titles, will be seen in the Oman International Rally next week. “I am looking forward to winning in Oman as we are aiming to win the Middle East Championship title again. I am ready for the challenge,” he said.
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