Published on 14 Aug 2008
Sheik Ahmed ALMAKTOUM, Athens Double Trap Champion, retires from competitions
Marco Dalla Dea
Sheik Ahmed ALMAKTOUM of the United Arab Emirates, 44, announced today his intention to retire from the international competition. The Double Trap Olympic Champion of Athens 2004 and first Olympic medallist of his country, decided to stop competing <em>“I won every title in shooting, I would like to dedicate myself to different things, now”</em>
The Double Trap Olympic Gold Medallist of Athens 2004, Sheik Ahmed ALMAKTOUM, announced today that he will retire from international competitions after the Olympic Games of Beijing 2008. “The Double Trap Final of these Olympic Games of Beijing 2008 has been my last official international competition. I am going to retire from shooting competitions” said ALMAKTOUM interviewed by the ISSF NEWS magazine at the Olympic venue of Beijing, today.
The 44-year old shooter has been competing, and winning, both in the Trap Men and in the Double Trap Event, but he wrote his name in the history of shooting by winning the first Olympic medal ever for his country, the UAE, in Double Trap event at the Games of Athens 2004.
ALMAKTOUM matured his decision after that successful competition of Athens “After I won the Games, and almost every other international title, I decided to quit shooting. I qualified for Beijing in 2005, but has you know I have not been taking part in many ISSF World Cups or World Championships, during the last Olympic cycle”
Next to the Olympic spotlight, the champion of Dubai has won four different World Cups, the 2001 World Championships and the 2004 Asian Championships, throughout the last seven years. A successful career that he likes to recall “The international shooting has been a wonderful experience. But now is time for me to dedicate myself to my family” he said.
"Shooting is in my blood" continued Sheik ALMAKTOUM; “I will never quit shooting. But this passion is going to find a place in my private life. Other things are more important to me, now.”
Beijing 2008 did not turn out to be his lucky competition. ALMAKTOUM, who had not taken part in any major international event before the Games, came very close to his second Olympic final in Double Trap, but he could not make through a determinant shoot-off “I am satisfied with my result, here in Beijing, also considering that I have been away from competitions for so long - he commented - I am leaving the competitions, but I will always be a supporter of the shooting sports!”
The 44-year old shooter has been competing, and winning, both in the Trap Men and in the Double Trap Event, but he wrote his name in the history of shooting by winning the first Olympic medal ever for his country, the UAE, in Double Trap event at the Games of Athens 2004.
ALMAKTOUM matured his decision after that successful competition of Athens “After I won the Games, and almost every other international title, I decided to quit shooting. I qualified for Beijing in 2005, but has you know I have not been taking part in many ISSF World Cups or World Championships, during the last Olympic cycle”
Next to the Olympic spotlight, the champion of Dubai has won four different World Cups, the 2001 World Championships and the 2004 Asian Championships, throughout the last seven years. A successful career that he likes to recall “The international shooting has been a wonderful experience. But now is time for me to dedicate myself to my family” he said.
"Shooting is in my blood" continued Sheik ALMAKTOUM; “I will never quit shooting. But this passion is going to find a place in my private life. Other things are more important to me, now.”
Beijing 2008 did not turn out to be his lucky competition. ALMAKTOUM, who had not taken part in any major international event before the Games, came very close to his second Olympic final in Double Trap, but he could not make through a determinant shoot-off “I am satisfied with my result, here in Beijing, also considering that I have been away from competitions for so long - he commented - I am leaving the competitions, but I will always be a supporter of the shooting sports!”