To me the Olympics, both Winter and Summer, are all about the stories behind the athletes and here’s one that caught my attention.
Faisal Faisal is on course to become first Iraqi to participate in Winter Olympic Gamesa after finishing 28th at the 2009 FIBT Skeleton World Championships in New York on Sunday. Faisal stood out from the other competitors by wearing a ‘skull-face’ mask given to him by a friend.
Faisal, who lived in Wales for a couple of years as a boy, moved back to Baghdad aged 7 and lived through two wars. He finally left home for Australia in 1998 on a student Visa and missed out on the 2006 Torino Games having attempted to raise funds by selling his car.
After missing out three year’s ago Faisel now looks like he may qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and would carry the national flag should he achieve his goal.
I’d like to wish Faisal all the best in qualify for the 2010 games and will keep you updated with his progress through this blog.
Alternatively, you can check out his latest news and send messages of support to Faisal through his personal blog at www.olympicdestiny.com
