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RUNNER Rashid Ramzi has his sights set on more Olympic success in four years time after notching-up Bahrain's first-ever gold medal at Beijing.
In an exclusive interview, he told GulfWeekly that his success on the track has been appreciated across the Arab world and, although Moroccan-born, he loves the kingdom and will be forever thankful for the opportunities his adopted country has offered him.
But it could have been so different if his concerned parents had got their way ... as they urged their son not to miss out on a university education.
Rashid, now aged 28, said: "My parents weren't too thrilled about me going into athletics, especially my mum.
"They wanted me to continue my studies and go on to university as it is difficult to get far in Morocco without a proper education.
"They are like any regular parents that worry about their kids. They wanted to make sure I didn't mess up my future but I am pleased that they gave me a choice.
"They were really against it but told me that I was an adult and should be able to make my own decisions in life; however, I was warned that I must also face the consequences of whatever happened. I thank God that I chose the right path."
Rashid was born in the town of Safi -150 kilometres from the Moroccan capital of Rabat - and now resides in Zayed Town in Bahrain.
He was keen on sports and would probably have settled on playing soccer for kicks had he not kept finding success on the track at the age of 17. "I noticed that I had a knack for it, since I kept winning," he said.
"I specialised in running outside the stadium, kind of like marathon running in the forest and the desert. Then I started running the 800 metres and still kept winning."
He entered the 800 metres race in the Moroccan Championships three times, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 1999-2000 and won and also took the 1500 metres title in the 1998-1999 African Junior Championships, in Tunis.
The kingdom came calling and after talks with leading members of Bahrain's athletics committee an opportunity to concentrate on his running career and take up a job with the Ministry of Defence was grasped and he arrived here back in 2002.
He was shortly joined by his coach and friend Khalid Boulami. Since then it has been a roller-coaster ride for Rashid in his quest for success. At the Athens Olympics, for example, there was misery when he failed to qualify for the final of the 800m but he mastered the World Championships in Helsinki in the following year and achieved champion status in both the 800m and 1500m races.
He said: "In Athens I raced when I was sick. I had a hint of the flu and, despite my better judgement, I raced anyway. I wanted to race but I just couldn't make it past the semi-finals - but thank God the results at the World Championships gave me a big push to keep going forward.
"I could have participated in a few more competitions with cash prizes but the Olympics meant more to me than just money.
"The Olympics is a historical and honourable event. That is worth so much more. I felt quite a bit of pressure when I was heading to Beijing. I felt that if I had come back with the silver, it would not have been enough.
"I faced strong competition from Kenya. As you know their runners are quite tough to beat. But thank God, the race went as I expected. I expected a fast race - it was part of my race plan - and I was ready.
"The second I crossed the finishing line I couldn't believe it. I thanked God and then I couldn't think. When I first started the race, my thoughts were of how to get to the finish line and then it was over. Wow! What now?
"Then I started thinking of how wonderful it felt and how my dream had come true. I had won a gold medal at the Olympics, what more could I ask for?
"Frankly, I can't even describe how I was feeling. It was just unbelievable. All my worries, pressures and fears dissolved. I thanked God for everything.
"I do believe Bahrain is my home. You see, the entire Arab world is your home but the country that helps you, educates you, helps make your dreams come true and assists you in playing an important role in society - now that is your true home.
"The country that gives you even more than you ever dreamed possible ... like, say an Olympic gold medal ... then you will love that country even more than life.
"After the race I remember making my way to the Bahraini group on the side and they passed me three flags. I then took the largest flag and made my victory run.
"I was still in a state of utter disbelief. I felt so proud.
"The next day I was given the medal. The 1500m was the last race so they saved the awards ceremony for the following day.
"I stood on the podium and I heard the Bahrain national anthem. When I first arrived in Beijing and entered the stadium I looked at the podium and wished that I would end up up there in first place.
"And, on the day when I stood on the podium and heard the national anthem play, I remembered that first day in Beijing and how I asked God to help me achieve this ... and then I felt really proud.
"Now, wherever I go, like a restaurant, coffee shop or hotel, people recognise me and come up and thank me or tell me how proud I have made them.
"Remember, most people here follow football, not running. Now, thanks to the Olympics, people here are starting to pay attention to athletics.
"When I returned to Morocco I had the same type of greeting there as I did in Bahrain. In Morocco, people have told me, 'yes, you have won for Bahrain but you also really won for all the Arab countries'.
"People from different places such as Egypt, Algeria and Saudi Arabia have all said the same thing - we needed a medal like this - you have brought pride and hope for all Arabs around the world.
"Thankfully the programme - the action plan - we set in 2002 achieved everything we hoped for.
"Now we are working on our plan for Olympics 2012."
