UAE’S SWIMMER AL JASMI SETS NEW NATIONAL RECORD
By Sayed Ali, Senior Reporter

GulfNews
August 13, 2008, 00:00
United Arab Emirates

Al Jasmi succeed in achieving a new record for the UAE and himself.

Dubai: The UAE suffered a double disappointment in Beijing yesterday.

Shaikh Ahmad Mohammad Hasher Al Maktoum’s loss in the double trap
shooting was followed by swimmer Obaid Al Jasmi, who finished last
place in his 100m freestyle heat.

Al Jasmi came sixth and last in what was a weak field in the heat,
which includes swimmers from Aruba, Mauritius, Armenia, Bermuda
and Fiji.

But he did succeed in achieving a new record for the UAE and himself.

He finished in 53.29 seconds, beating his old record of 54.82. The
winner of the heat Jan Roodzant, of Aruba, clocked 51.69.

However the winner’s time will not be enough to make the quarters due
to the difference between his time and that of top man Eamon Sullivan,
of Australia, world record time of 47.24.

Al Jasmi said: "The preparation which we got for the Olympic Games
was not sufficient.

"We prepared for a couple of months while other swimmers prepared
for years.

"Some of them began preparation from the time the Athens Games was
finished in 2004."

Official bodies

The UAE swimmer said the swimming associations and the UAE National
Olympic Committee (NOC) had to devote more time and energy to preparing
athletes for the coming Olympics London 2012.

"There are several talents in the UAE with a promising future, but
need more care by the association and the NOC.

"They have to be prepared for long times (years and not months)
and have to gain experience by competing against swimmers from top
countries," he said.

UAE swimmers first took part in the Olympic Games in Seoul 1988 with
six swimmers.

They continued in the Olympics with five swimmers in 1992 Barcelona. In
the 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing one
swimmer represented UAE.

Al Jasmi came sixth and last in what was a weak field in the heat,
which includes swimmers from Aruba, Mauritius, Armenia, Bermuda
and Fiji.