At the age of 15, Hamid Al Balushi wrote one of the most inspiring stories in para-sports in the UAE, defying the disability that accompanied him since birth. Al Balushi initially relied on swimming to overcome the challenges of polio before his star shone in athletics, achieving impressive results by winning three medals (one gold and two silver) at the Asian Youth Paralympic Games, which were hosted by Dubai last month. Hamid's story is not just a record of sporting achievements, but a living testament to willpower, determination, and family support. It is the journey of a young Emirati who today aspires to Olympic glory. As Al Balushi told 'Al-Ittihad', a medical advice given to his mother was the reason he joined the Al-Tasam club for the disabled at the age of three and relied on swimming to overcome the challenges of his disability. He added: 'In 2019, I had the honor of participating in my first international competition in swimming at the IWAS World Youth Games in Sharjah before I gradually shifted to athletics, which became my true passion. Through it, I managed to prove myself and climb the podium.' He explained that swimming formed an essential part of building his athletic career and developing his muscle mass, but his ambitions were more fully realized in athletics. He said: 'In 2024, I succeeded in winning my first gold medal in my career at the Gulf Games in Dubai, before achieving the most important achievement last month by winning three medals at the Asian Youth Paralympic Games - Dubai 2025.' He added: 'My rise to the podium was accompanied by setting new personal records, whether in the gold medal in discus throw with a throw exceeding 10 meters, or in the silver in javelin throw with a throw exceeding 13 meters, in addition to the silver in shot put with a throw exceeding four meters.' Al Balushi, a student at Dubai Secondary School, highlighted the major role his mother played in his journey, confirming that her continuous support and her willingness to endure the hardship of traveling five days a week between Dubai and the Al-Tasam club had a significant impact on achieving balance between his studies and training. He confirmed that a strict diet program is one of the cornerstones of his success, explaining that his mother ensures daily to provide him with a balanced diet that meets his needs for proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables, which helps in muscle growth, especially the arms and back, which are the foundation for strong performance in throwing events in para-athletics. Al Balushi spoke about his relationship with his new coach Shajan, saying: 'I owe a lot to my coach Shajan, who holds Sri Lankan nationality, for his role in studying my performance rates and developing my body's muscular system, which positively reflected on my level and contributed to the results I achieved at the Asian Paralympics in Dubai.' Regarding his upcoming participation, Al Balushi clarified that he has immediately started preparing for the Fazza International Athletics Championship, which will be held in Dubai next month, confirming that his goal is to obtain an international classification and gain experience by competing with older players. He concluded his speech by saying: 'We in the United Arab Emirates receive great support for the segment of people of determination, and my ambitions do not stop at this point. I seek to continue to achieve accomplishments and raise the country's flag in international forums, reaching the dream of achieving Olympic glory at the next Summer Paralympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.' Hamid Al Balushi: 'The great support from my mother had a significant impact on achieving a balance between my studies and training. A strict diet program is one of the cornerstones of my success.'
