PARIS: Maryam Al Farsi, the UAE national team sprinter, is all set for the 100-metre race at the Paris 2024 Olympics. On Thursday, she was seen training hard, getting ready for the preliminary round happening tomorrow.

The race is a big deal, with 36 sprinters competing in four rounds. Each round has nine sprinters, and the top three from each round, along with the next five fastest times, will move on to the first round.

Just a bit of background for you: the world record for the 100-metre race is held by American Griffith Joyner Florence, with an incredible time of 10.49 seconds set in 1988. On the Olympic stage, Jamaican sprinter Thompson-Herah Elaine holds the record with a time of 10.61 seconds, set during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Brigadier General Dr. Mohammed Al Mur, President of the UAE Athletics Federation, talked about their big plans for the future. He mentioned how the federation’s comprehensive plan to discover talents and create champions is crucial for getting more UAE athletes into international and Olympic competitions. This plan is all about developing the sport and aiming for big wins in future championships.

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Talking about Maryam’s participation, Al Mur said, “Maryam Al Farsi is set to sprint in the 100-metre race at the Paris Olympics after completing her preparation camp in Egypt. We’ve focused on boosting her technical skills for this Olympic event. We’re making sure she has everything she needs to feel confident. We believe her participation will be a huge inspiration for UAE track and field athletes aiming for the Olympics in the future.”

Abdulrahman Suleiman, the technical director of the UAE Athletics Federation, confirmed that Maryam is ready for the race. He also mentioned that she holds the state record for both junior and youth stages in the 100-metre race, with a time of 13.04 seconds.