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IAAF/TNN
Qatar’s sensational track and field athlete Abderrahman Samba, who has set the world’s quickest time in 400m hurdles since 1992, and won the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay gold at the Jakarta Asian Games has set sights on the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019.
In the latest episode of IAAF Inside Athletics, Samba spoke about his excitement ahead of Doha 2019.
“I don’t feel pressure because it will be my home,” said Samba, who last year set an Asian 400m hurdles record of 46.98.
The 24-year-old athlete stressed that he aims to be a champion like compatriot and high jump star Mutaz Essa Barshim.
“Mutaz (Barshim, the world high jump champion) is a great champion and we have learned a lot from him. I consider him as a role model in athletics and I try to follow his example. Hopefully one day I will be a champion like him.
“He always gives us tips about how to enter the Diamond League and how to enter the competitions.”
On his celebrations after wins by doing the Samba dance jig, he says, “The first time I celebrated was after the Doha Diamond League meeting. I ran, saw the clock, and I saw a new personal best, it meant something very joyous to me. I remember there was a dance, the young people were all doing it, as it was a fashion at that time. So, I started this dance immediately, and then I started to dance a new one in each meeting.”
He also recalled his unfortunate fall at the 2017 World Championships in London and the motivation which saw him spring back to best again.
“Looking back to the 2017 World Championships where I hit a hurdle and tripped, I was very disappointed after the race, especially because my coach, the managing staff and the president of the federation were all present. But these people are the cornerstones that enabled me to come back stronger than before and with more motivation to be the best.
“I’ve had so much support since then, it has given me a big boost in morale. That I must come back and prove my existence, and this exactly was the secret of my change,” he added.
Samba says that his dreams are bigger than just winning the gold or a world record. “I have to remember that the World Championships was just a setback and I must learn from it.
“My time (46.98) is very good but I don’t consider it enough, especially at the moment because several athletes are getting close to the world record. My goal may be bigger than the world record. I’ve tried to make the 400m hurdles something exceptional.”
Qatar’s sensational track and field athlete Abderrahman Samba, who has set the world’s quickest time in 400m hurdles since 1992, and won the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay gold at the Jakarta Asian Games has set sights on the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019.
In the latest episode of IAAF Inside Athletics, Samba spoke about his excitement ahead of Doha 2019.
“I don’t feel pressure because it will be my home,” said Samba, who last year set an Asian 400m hurdles record of 46.98.
The 24-year-old athlete stressed that he aims to be a champion like compatriot and high jump star Mutaz Essa Barshim.
“Mutaz (Barshim, the world high jump champion) is a great champion and we have learned a lot from him. I consider him as a role model in athletics and I try to follow his example. Hopefully one day I will be a champion like him.
“He always gives us tips about how to enter the Diamond League and how to enter the competitions.”
On his celebrations after wins by doing the Samba dance jig, he says, “The first time I celebrated was after the Doha Diamond League meeting. I ran, saw the clock, and I saw a new personal best, it meant something very joyous to me. I remember there was a dance, the young people were all doing it, as it was a fashion at that time. So, I started this dance immediately, and then I started to dance a new one in each meeting.”
He also recalled his unfortunate fall at the 2017 World Championships in London and the motivation which saw him spring back to best again.
“Looking back to the 2017 World Championships where I hit a hurdle and tripped, I was very disappointed after the race, especially because my coach, the managing staff and the president of the federation were all present. But these people are the cornerstones that enabled me to come back stronger than before and with more motivation to be the best.
“I’ve had so much support since then, it has given me a big boost in morale. That I must come back and prove my existence, and this exactly was the secret of my change,” he added.
Samba says that his dreams are bigger than just winning the gold or a world record. “I have to remember that the World Championships was just a setback and I must learn from it.
“My time (46.98) is very good but I don’t consider it enough, especially at the moment because several athletes are getting close to the world record. My goal may be bigger than the world record. I’ve tried to make the 400m hurdles something exceptional.”
