UAE’s Mubarak Salem Al Besher clocked 1:05.26 in his 100m breaststroke heat on Saturday morning and was unable to advance to the semi-finals.
The 24-year-old Emirati was making his Olympics debut and was looking to record a personal best but his timing was a mere 0.05s off his previous mark.
“I had set myself a goal to clock a new national record but unfortunately I was not able to do that, which is why I’m very disappointed,” said Al Besher told Sport360°.
“I was very nervous today because it was my first time at the Olympics but still I’m happy I got the chance to compete against the best in the world.”
Al Besher explained he had a good start in the first 50m but then he started thinking too much. “In the second 50m, I got a bit tired, mentally not physically. That’s where things went wrong a bit.
“I was expecting better because it’s always important to improve on your timings with every competition, but I clocked a timing almost identical to my personal best which is still a good swim.”
Al Besher returns to the UAE on Monday and will be prepping for the Arab Championships that kick off in Jordan on August 28.
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