With the Summer Paralympic Games just over a year away, athletes from around the world will be training in earnest to take up their places in national teams and take on the best in the world. Among them is Emirati, Abdullah Salem al Blooshi.
Just 12 when he began cycling at his club, Al Ahli Club in 2004, a year later Abdullah won his first team medal, and two years after that, was representing the UAE in the national team.
This meteoric rise to success continued with international achievement – a bronze medal in the team time trial at the 2009 Arabian Championship, as well as becoming the first Emirati in the peloton in the Asian Championship, held in the UAE the same year.
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Moving into the elite category in 2010, he seemed on course for stardom in the cycling world.
But just two years later, at the age of just 20, Abdullah suffered a devastating injury during training.
Colliding with a road sign at speed, his right arm sustained damage that has proven to be life-changing. Over the following years, he has undergone over 30 surgeries in the UAE and with specialists in Germany, but has not regained the use of his right arm.
For many, an injury like this would discourage them from continuing with the sport they loved, or put an end to dreams of international achievement. Not Abdullah.
At first, it was just for love of the sport. But soon after, encouraged by his friend, and now coach, Mohammed Al Murawwi Abdullah entered the racing arena again. His first race was the Nad al Sheba race, in the determination category, where he took first place.
Since then, Abdullah has raced in Paralympic competitions all over the world, and is part of the UAE Paralympic National team. Personal trainer, Joe Watters, who has seen first-hand Abdullah’s determination, was inspired by his story and keen to share it more widely to inspire others. He said “Not many people could come back from an injury so severe, it’s a challenge mentally as much as physically. Abdullah hasn’t let it stop him from training hard and believing in himself, and it’s shown in his achievements since the accident – hopefully this will inspire others and show people that, if you have the motivation, you can triumph over adversity”.
Abdullah’s most recent achievement came in the form of bronze medal at the Asian Championship in Uzbekistan during April, and he has many more races to come as he works towards the Paralympic Games in August 2020.
