Abderrahman Samba talks very fast, without a pause and in a straight trajectory. It’s similar to his run – swift, clean and strong strides that are indicative of athletic prowess. His coach Hennie Kotze says there’s nothing fascinating in athletics than watching a champion hurdler in action.
There’s one difference, though. When Samba is hurdling, his expression is stern, focused. When he is talking, he is beaming ear to ear, gesticulating wildly and giving the impression he loves it very much.
Not that he doesn’t love hurdling – after all, he is one of the best in the world, besides being a potential world champion with several years of domination beckoning.
“Whatever I do, I want to be the best. I want to be number one in athletics, I want to be number one in life. Along with my coach we want to be the best together,” Samba told Gulf Times after a gruelling training session yesterday.
Samba has dominated the Diamond League circuit in his discipline this year, captivating the world and even becoming only the second man in history – after American Kevin Young – to go under 47 seconds in the 400m hurdles – a sensational feat considering he finished a modest seventh at the IAAF World Championships in London last year.
He is in supremely fit shape and looking forward to his first Asian Games where, barring a shocking error or an unexpected upset, he is certain to win gold.
“I am very confident that I can win the gold. This is the first Asian Games for me and I consider it the second-biggest event in my career so far after the World Championships last year. I am very excited about it and I’ll do something big here,” the 23-year-old added.
Samba is in tune with his coach’s belief that he could win the world title at the World Championships in Doha next year.
“Yes, that’s my goal. To become the world champion in front of home fans would be a fantastic achievement. Maybe also break the world record.”
In a rare quirk, Samba carries a music system to his training venue and prefers to have the sound blaring and echoing through the empty stadium. Most other athletes would be more discreet about it, listening to music on their headphones.
Samba says music is a big part of his life and he cannot do without it.
“Yeah that’s the way I like it. It helps me in my job. I like music very much and I keep track of trends in music and dance. I like many Arab singers, and also Beyonce and Rihanna. I am also aware of Kiki Challenge,” he says, attempting a dance move pioneered by the Canadian rapper Audrey Drake Graham.
Of course, he won’t be jumping off cars or doing something equally silly as he has far more interesting challenges to seek on the cut-throat athletics circuit.
“It’s very tough out there. There are lots of good athletes out there. I have to stay focused and healthy.”
SAMBA
