Humaid Al Derei has a simple yet lofty goal in life – to become one of the most famous Emirati names in Olympic Games history.
At first glance that may not seem too tall a task. The UAE, for example, remain a fledgling nation in every sense.
Officially 44 years old, the country has appeared in just eight Games, more than just 47 of the 204 nations recognised by the National Olympic Committee.
Since debuting at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, with just seven athletes, the UAE has only Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Hasher Al Maktoum’s gold medal in the men’s double trap at Athens 2004 to boast of.
The UAE is, however growing at an exponential rate in every sense. Thirteen members of Team UAE heading to Rio next month have already been selected with more expected to join them.
A team of 13 would make it the third largest contingent of Emirati athletes to participate after the 14 who went to Barcelona in 1992 and the 27 who went to London (although 19 of them were part of the UAE national football team).
Like Al Maktoum and the two high-profile members of that debut Games 32 years ago, 400m hurdler Rashed Jerbeh and long jumper Shahad Mubarak, Al Derei dreams of making history for the Emirates.
Humaid Al Derei.
“Since I was young I have always wanted to achieve something in judo,” said the 24-year-old judoka, who was also part of the 27-strong team four years ago in London.
“I wanted to stamp my mark in judo so people would remember me. So when I qualified for London 2012 that was my first stamp. It is a memory which no-one will forget.
“Everybody will now recognise Humaid Al Derei as an Olympian, that was my big break, but in the UAE we don’t stop, we continue. When I finish I want to be one of the biggest names in Emirati Olympic history.”
After realising his ambition of participating in the Games in London – Al Derei, then just 21, lost to Egypt’s Ahmed Awad in the second round of the men’s – 66kg category – the Abu Dhabi native is upset not to be part of the team this time around.
However, having just embarked on an administration and public relations degree at Abu Dhabi University and in the middle of his mandatory military service, he admits he would have simply not been ready for Rio.
His Olympic dream is far from dead though, and as soon as the 2016 Games are finished, he will turn his attentions to 2020 and Tokyo.
“Insh’Allah I am looking for the Olympics in Tokyo 2020,” he said.
“After Rio I will start a special programme and I will be finished in the Army so I will manage my time between college, training and competitions. After London it is definitely something I want to experience again.
Humaid in action during a recent competition.
“I’m still very young, in four years’ time I will be 28 so I can still go to Tokyo and compete for a medal. It doesn’t matter I’m not at Rio.
“My vision is Tokyo and I want to do well. For the Olympics you need three years of camps and competitions, so that’s why I’m targeting Tokyo.”
Although it was undoubtedly a tough call to make not to put his hand up for selection this year, Al Derei says he will try to make it to Rio to cheer on the three judokas who have been chosen – naturalised Moldovan-born trio Victor Scvortov, Sergiu Toma and Ivan Remarenco.
He said: “I hope I will still go as a spectator. I cannot get a ticket at the moment but I hope I will go to support the other guys who will be competing. If I go I will try to enjoy it and cheer on the guys representing the UAE.”
With so much pressure on him currently, missing Rio was the sensible decision. Not that the preparations four years ago were ideal for Al Derei, far from it.
He was only 21, entered the 2012 Games hampered by an eye infection and was nursing an injured elbow when he fought Awad.
However, he admits he gained a lot from the experience.
“It was wonderful to compete there,” said Al Derei.
“People were interested in me even though I was not from the country. People were supporting the UAE. The opponent I lost to was Egyptian and they were supporting both of us.
“I got an injury in my elbow so I could not compete well. But I got through the experience and enjoyed it and I just think that I got to compete at the Olympics.
“Things might have been different without the injury, who knows, but I was playing well, better than what I did (where I finished).
“It was a difficult match to win but I think I could have beaten him. I had come up against him in previous tournaments. He would have not taken the win easily if I had been fit. After the match he spoke to me and said he’d heard about the injury, and he capitalised on that.
“It was very special. I was very proud of myself. They were good memories. It was one of the best moments in my life and I will never forget it.”
