Omar Al Marzooqi, rider of the UAE national show jumping team, concluded his participation in the 33rd Olympic Games hosted by the French capital Paris from July 26 to Aug.11, which saw the participation of 10,500 athletes, including 14 from the UAE.

He finished among the Top 20 riders, after qualifying among 30 out of 75 riders for the finals. Al Marzooqi finished with 8 faults in a time of 83.38 seconds, ranking 19th, as the youngest participating rider in the event’s history at the Olympics.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Chairwoman of Abu Dhabi Ladies Club, and Al Ain Ladies Club, owner and founder of Al Shira’aa Stables, said, “The UAE show jumping team’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is a result of the unlimited support from His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and the support and interest of His Highness Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, starting from the foundation stage, passing through the youth stage and up to qualification for major events, most notably the Paris 2024 Olympics.”

Sheikha Fatima pointed out that the national show jumping team has successfully contributed to enhancing the UAE’s reputation and sports standing by reaching the Paris Olympics, thanks to the impressive performance and advanced results achieved by all participating riders, based on a scientific methodology and future vision.

“Al Shira’aa Stables has been keen to apply this since its inception 12 years ago. The excellence and success resulted from these promising practices and ambitious strategies that support the UAE’s efforts to elevate the sport of show jumping and increase its chances of representing the nation. It was not by chance but the result of consecutive years of planning and diligent work,” she commented.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised the remarkable journey and outstanding success of the UAE riders in the individual show jumping event at the Paris Olympics, qualifying for the final stage among 20 countries, despite this group of riders participating for the first time in this major sporting event.

“Despite the presence of many riders from other countries who had participated in previous editions of the Olympic Games, the UAE show jumping team proved their merit to be among the best countries in the world with impressive numbers and positive results; through the promising rider Omar Al Marzooqi, who is the youngest rider participating in the event, followed by the rider Ali Al Karbi, reflecting the talent and competence of the nation’s riders,” she noted.

“Al Shira’aa Stables is proud to provide national show jumping teams with talented elements who grew up loving equestrian sports and gradually developed under the guidance of elite specialized trainers until they reached the best form.

“The UAE riders managed to rise from mere participation to competition and winning first places and qualifying for major events without relying on invitation (wild) cards, including the Paris Olympics, which formed a strong base of riders who bear the responsibility of representing the nation and competing in its name, highlighted by Omar Al Marzooqi, who joined Al Shira’aa Stables at an early age and excelled in this sport, winning the first medal in the history of the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2018, in addition to the distinguished rider Ali Al Karbi and many riders from all clubs of the UAE, who receive full support and care for the same goal and the same purpose of seeing the UAE flag always raised high,” concluded Sheikh Fatima.

It is noteworthy that the UAE show jumping team has been prepared under full technical supervision with direct guidance and continuous follow-up from Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at various stages, training sessions, preparation, and qualification, in addition to the diligent follow-up of the UAE Show Jumping League activities, which bore fruit and positively reflected on the overall standing of the sport.

Agencies