‘Awards are like a fuel to me. The more I win the more it drives me towards achieving higher. The experiences I have been through in life have been the driving force behind me’
Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim has won the Athlete of the Year award at the ‘Esquire Man At His Best Awards’ ceremony in Dubai on Tuesday.
Fondly called “The Qatari Falcon’, Barshim, the nation’s most successful high jumper, was honoured for his performance at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year where he won a silver medal.
It was his second medal at the Olympics, having won a bronze at the London Games in 2012.
Besides his Olympic achievements, the young champion has also won several titles at the Asian level and is also the holder of the Asian record of 2.43m besides being the reigning World Indoor champion.
Tuesday’s honour at the sixth annual ‘Esquire Man At His Best Awards’ marked another proud moment for Barshim as he became the first recipient from Qatar to win the top prize given away by Esquire Middle East.
Barshim was among 19 high-achieving individuals who were recognised by Esquire Middle East, the men’s lifestyle magazine, at a glittering ceremony studded with prominent people and regional cultural icons.
The awards were presented to highly proficient individuals who have not only achieved exceptional triumphs and accomplishments, but have also been an inspiration to society.
Referring to his win a jubilant Barshim said, “Awards are like a fuel to me. The more I win the more it drives me towards achieving higher. The experiences I have been through in life have been the driving force behind me. I’ve been through a lot and getting this far has not been easy, but these encounters and events have definitely made me who I am today.
“I draw inspiration from everything around me. There’s so much to learn. My word of advice to young people looking for a future in high jumping is: train wisely and keep in mind three important points – Victory is the result of hard work, dedication and patience.
“There are no shortcuts. I am deeply motivated by my fans and in turn, I am honoured to inspire them. I want to thank all those who support me; my family, friends, fans and supporters always motivate me to aim higher.”
By winning this honour, Barshim joins the ranks of illustrious businessmen, outstanding humanitarian leaders and cultural stars from the region – true role models who are among the winners of the award, every year.
Awards were given out in various categories ranging from fashion, comedy, humanitarian services and athletics.
Mutaz Barshim
