Qatar Athletics Federation president Dahlan al-Hamad with other officials at the announcement of Allyson Felix’s (picture on the right) participation in Doha Diamond League. PICTURE: Jayaram
By Sports Reporter/Doha
When Allyson Felix first landed in Qatar in 2005 for her maiden Doha Grand Prix appearance, she was just another Olympic medallist filling in the event’s impressive international roster.
Eight years after her debut race in Qatar, the 27-year-old US sprinter won’t be just another entrant in the 400m race but the main female attraction in Doha’s Diamond League competition programme.
Felix is not only the first reigning IAAF World Female Athlete of the Year competing in Doha, but she also holds the unprecedented record of having won ten races in as many entries in Doha, in an eight-year run.
“It is always nice to compete in Doha. I feel very comfortable in Qatar and in many ways it has started to feel like a home away from home. The people are so friendly, they are really supporting me and I can feel their love surrounding me.
“I am very proud of my ten-win streak; I guess I am getting old… Training is going well and I am excited to go after another victory in Doha” stated Felix after her name was announced by the Doha 2013 Diamond League Organising Committee at a press conference today in Doha.
“Allyson Felix is always most welcome in Doha. Her name is attached to Doha’s Grand Prix history with so many victories and meeting records to her tally. I couldn’t imagine Doha Diamond League without Allyson Felix being named among the participants” said QAF chairman Dahlan Jumaan al-Hamad.
At the London Olympic Games Allyson Felix captured her first ever gold medal in an individual event (200m), after three gold medals as a member of US relay squads. Some might say she has now fulfilled her childhood dream, but her hunger is not yet satisfied:
“Finally achieving my goal of Olympic Gold has been a surreal feeling, I have been chasing that goal for so long that I had to regroup and look at my goals for the future. Since I have been back to training I have realised that I love the feeling of Gold and I am even more hungry to achieve it again” claimed Felix, who also stands in second place in the World Championships multi-medallist all-time list, having won eight gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
Felix’s main rivals on the road to her eleventh Doha victory will be reigning 400m World Champion Amantle Montsho from Botswana, who just missed out on a podium place in London (4th), as well as former Olympic/World Champion and London Olympics silver medallist, Briton Christine Ohuruogu, Beijing 2008 Olympics silver medallist Shericka Williams from Jamaica and US 4X400m team mate Francena McCorory.
Meanwhile, Mutaz Essa Barshim will be flying Qatar’s flag in the event. The 21-year old high jumper is carrying Qatari hopes for a rare Diamond League win. After last season’s Olympic bronze medal, Mutaz’s reputation spread like wildfire around the world and everybody expects a 2.40 jump from him sooner or later.
“Last season was pretty successful for me since I won an Olympic medal and I equalled the Asian record. If I stay healthy and by working hard, I know I can jump higher and hopefully I will win a medal in Moscow at the World Championships.”
“In all competitions I enter, I aim for victory. From what I can see, the world’s best athletes will come to Doha and I want to thank the organisers for setting up such a high standard competition because it will really help push myself to the limit“, says Mutaz who will fight for victory against World Champion Jesse Williams from the USA, Olympic bronze medallist and reigning European Champion, Briton Robbie Grabarz, Russia’s 2013 European Indoor Championships winner Sergey Mudrov and current Vice World Champion Aleksey Dmitrik. The name of the younger Barshim, Moamer, the 2012 Asian Junior Champion, is included in the line up as well.
Mutaz, who was third in the Doha meeting in 2011 but missed out on the 2012 edition due to injury, calls the residents of Doha to embrace the Diamond League and encourage all athletes to give their best:
“I want to invite everyone to come and watch closely the Doha 2013 Diamond League meeting. Very few cities around the world are privileged to host such a high class event.”
David Rudisha will meet Kenya’s Timothy Kitum again in the 800m in Doha in what is expected to be a thrilling race with the presence of London 6th place finisher and reigning World Indoor Champion, Ethiopia’s 19-year old Mohamed Aman, adding more quality to this exciting race.