Salem Al Shehhi is one of the most promising Emirati up-and-comers in the world of wheelchair track racing and the teenager says his three-medal showing in Sochi is just the beginning.
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Al Shehhi won 100m gold, and 200m and 400m silver in the T54 class at the IWAS World Games and the 17-year-old is hoping he can go all the way in Rio 2016.
Training at the Althiqah Club for the Disabled in Sharjah, Al Shehhi took up the sport a mere five years ago and is already making a name for himself amongst the big guns.
“I feel great especially that I was one of the youngest competitors in Sochi and I was competing against world champions,” Al Shehhi told Sport360.
“I’m looking forward to Rio 2016. I really believe I can compete for the podium there, nothing is impossible. If I’m well-trained then I can definitely compete.”
Al Shehhi is coached by acclaimed Algerian Bu Allam, who had helped guide Mohammed Al Hammadi to his two Paralympic medals in London 2012, and the young Emirati is being groomed to take over the baton from his fellow Sharjah native.
“We’re now hoping to have a deeper squad so that we can have younger athletes that can take over when the likes of Mohammed Hammadi and others retire,” said Ahmed Al Suwaidi, the head of the National Teams Committee at the UAE Disability Sports Federation.
“But let’s be realistic, finding a talented athlete in disability sports is tough because the talent pool is much smaller than with able-bodied athletes. Having one talented disabled athlete means having a national treasure.
“We’re preparing the future generation, we have someone like Salem Al Shehhi who is very young. He got three medals in Sochi which is very impressive.
“It’s a sign that he’s on the right track. His coach, Bu Allam, is very experienced. Salem competes in the toughest class which includes top athletes from big countries. If he goes to Rio and makes a final that would be a huge achievement.”
