UAE's only gold medal winner at Olympics wows nation

Athens 2004. The Olympics. 'Shaikh Ahmed Mohammed Hasher Al Maktoum did it - and did it in style, winning a historic first ever gold medal for the UAE,'' wrote Viren Varma. Shaikh Ahmed's shot to Olympic glory was the UAE's first-ever, a feat that has not been emulated since then.
Ahmed took to the sport when he was 34, in 1997, and his dedication got him to the top of the podium. Our reporter Viren called him 'hard-working', someone who never gave up, who always had a gold medal in his sights. "He had the talent, technique and mental toughness to compete on the world stage and strike it rich," wrote our reporter.
Ahmed admitted the win left him speechless. "I can't even explain. I've worked so hard for four years. I've been pratictising day and evening, seven days a week, and sometimes a minimum of five days a week - so yes, I'm very happy,'' he was quoted as saying.
Shaikh Ahmed retired in 2012 due to heart condition. He is now a coach. In an interview he said parents should encourage children to play more sport. "The government is busy running the country. The role of parents is important. Children spend too much time on their iPhones and in malls. They have to do sport for the good of themselves and the UAE."
"They can still drive their Lamborghinis, but drive them to a sports club," said the star marksman.
Britain's shooter Peter Wilson, who won the Olympic gold in double trap at the London Olympics in 2012, paid tribute to Shaikh Ahmed, who trained him since 2008.
"I was fortunate to get back with Shaikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and get back to a level where I was back on the funding programme and from there it has been an incredible journey and I have had an amazing four years and to come up with an Olympic gold is just an amazing feeling," Wilson said.