Qatar to get state-of-art swimming academy

Champion Tunisian swimmer Oussama Mellouli (second from right) posing with Qatar Swimming Federation president Khalil al-Jabir (L), QOC secretary-general Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani (second from left) and Schools Olympic Programme manager Mohamed Fadallah (right) after the announcement of the launch of the Oussama Mellouli Swimming Academy yesterday.

By Anil John

Sports Editor

Qatar will soon launch a state-of-the-art swimming academy that will prove a boon to aspiring champions in the country and the region, authorities announced yesterday.

Named in honour of Oussama Mellouli, the Tunisian Olympic star and Arab heart-throb, the academy will form the foundation of Qatar’s swimming programme in the future, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) secretary-general HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Qatar Swimming Federation president Khalil al-Jabir told journalists at a press conference.

Mellouli, who attended the briefing, was also named as Qatar’s Schools Olympic Programme (SOP) ambassador by the QOC on the occasion, making it a doubly joyous day for the Tunisian who won the 10km open water gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 1500m freestyle gold four years earlier in Beijing.

“I am really proud and honoured to be present here in Qatar. Qatar is a second home to me and I am humbled that the swimming academy is being launched in my name,” Mellouli said.

The Tunisian will direct the programme at the academy in accordance with the knowledge and skills he has acquired by virtue of his training under some of the world’s best coaches.

 “I will put in my best efforts to ensure that we have a programme that will produce the champions of the future. I will focus on training and conditioning and we will have regular visits by top coaches and swimmers to guide the students at the academy,” the 30-year-old added.

Mellouli’s forte has been the pool but he stunned the sporting world at the London Olympics when he proved his versatility by winning the gruelling 10km open water event to etch his name in the annals of swimming’s history.

 “The Arab world can produce swimming champions. It’s not impossible, but we need concerted efforts where everyone – including family, coaches and the athletes themselves chip in,” Mellouli stressed.

“Swimming is a tough sport and athletes need to sacrifice a lot to achieve success in the sport. They need to have complete support of the people around them.”

Mellouli, who attended the University of Southern California on a swimming scholarship, said the 2016 Olympics in Rio would be his last.

“I have decided to quit after the Olympics in Brazil in two years’ time after which I will focus completely on giving back to the sport in the form of my knowledge and skills,” he said.

Qatar swimming chief al-Jabir said Mellouli was an inspiration to the entire Arab world.

“Everyone knows what a great champion he is,” said al-Jabir. “As a top athlete he is an inspiration to the Arab world and beyond and that is why we named our project the Oussama Meloulli Swimming Academy.”

“We thought it will be a failure on our part if we don’t benefit from his skills.”

Al-Jabir added the academy was Sheikh Saoud’s initiative. “Although I am the chief of the swimming federation, the idea for the Oussama Mellouli Swimming Academy came from Sheikh Saoud himself.” said al-Jabir.

Sheikh Saoud  proudly recalled the Tunisian’s gold harvest at the Arab Games in Doha in 2011.

“Who can forget his record haul 15 gold medals at the Arab Games,” Sheikh Saoud reminisced wondering if the feat will be ever surpassed.

“They say records are meant to be broken but I doubt if anybody in the future will be able to better Mellouli’s feat at the Arab Games.”

For the record Meloulli took part in 16 events at the Arab Games and failed to win a gold only in one.

“Oh, I only won a silver in that,” he chuckled.