The golden weightlifter Fares Ibrahim has made an unprecedented and honorable history for Qatari sports by winning the first-ever gold medal for Qatar in Olympic participation, achieving a weightlifting gold medal in the 96-kilogram category and setting an Olympic record with a total of 402 kilograms at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Fares' success was not a coincidence or a stroke of luck but the result of over 7 years of effort, work, and planning, backed by the unlimited support of the leadership, the constant assistance of the Olympic Committee, and the Qatar Weightlifting Federation. A significant factor in this achievement was the fortunate circumstance of having his father as his coach, creating a wonderful blend of elements that contributed to the historic achievement marked with golden letters in Qatar's tenth participation in Olympic history.
Fares Ibrahim opened his heart to the media delegation in Tokyo, discussing in detail his achievement, how it was realized, the main challenges he faced, and how the planning was carried out to achieve the gold medal in Tokyo during his second Olympic participation after Rio 2016.
The champion expressed his immense joy at achieving this milestone, feeling proud to gift the Qatari people their first Olympic gold medal. He shared his overwhelming happiness with a congratulatory call from His Highness the Amir of Qatar, stating that this call was a significant motivator for him to continue achieving honorable accomplishments for Qatar. He promised to secure a second gold medal in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
He also revealed the story of a meeting with his father and His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Committee, during the Rio 2016 Olympics, where a promise was made to win a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, a promise that was successfully fulfilled, raising the Qatari flag high in Japan. He emphasized that the support from Sheikh Joaan, along with his words and presence, was one of the key factors that motivated him to achieve this success.
Fares talked exceptionally about the role of his father and the advice that led him to this great success, praising the support of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation and the assistance he received to achieve this historic accomplishment. Below, we highlight the key aspects discussed during the meeting.
**The Hardest Moments**
- First, congratulations on your success in achieving Qatar's first Olympic gold medal. Tell us about your feelings regarding this achievement and the behind-the-scenes moments leading to your historic medal?
- Before achieving the medal, particularly in the early stages of the competition, specifically in the snatch, it was a very challenging feeling. They were the hardest moments I've experienced in my competitive career. In some competitions, the opponents were stronger, but in Tokyo 2020, it was exceptionally tough. The pressure was significant because it was an Olympic event, but we had confidence in the training and work we had done beforehand, although that did not hide the tension and pressure from the family, the federation, and the desire to accomplish something for Qatar. Thank God we succeeded and achieved this historic accomplishment—words fail to describe it. I spent nearly three days after winning the medal unable to sleep from the joy and happiness of this achievement.
**A Long-Term Plan**
- This was your second Olympic participation. What was your goal when you entered the competition in Tokyo 2020? Was it the gold medal, medal achievement, Olympic record, or other objectives?
- Indeed, this was my second Olympic participation after Rio 2016 in Brazil. We entered the competition in Tokyo with the goal of winning the gold medal, which we trained for and prepared extensively to achieve. We developed a long-term plan since 2016, specifically after the previous Olympics, extending until the Tokyo 2020 event. We had great confidence in God and in the work we had put in, along with the efforts from the federation, the team, the coach, and the entire apparatus. Thank God our effort resulted in the gold medal and the Olympic record.
**Calculated Risks**
- What tactics did you employ during the competition, especially since we saw changes in weights between 220 and 217? Was this scenario planned for achieving the medal?
- Certainly, we had an advantage in both the snatch and the clean and jerk. In such competitions, you employ various tactics, including lifting one kilogram higher than your direct competitor. Alternatively, as we did, you might lift a significantly high weight, which pushes your competitors to focus on each other instead. Then, you can drop in your second attempt to finish the matter. Such tactics are risky but calculated and happen when you have an edge in the snatch and confidence in the weightlifter's ability to achieve it. Thank God we managed it and secured the gold medal.
**If I Had Just Two Minutes**
- Why did you decide to lift 232 kg even after securing the gold?
- There is a time of two minutes between each attempt. That’s a short period. The previous lift was 225 kg, which was an Olympic record in both the snatch and the total. Before that, I had attempted 217 kg. The exertion made the "breathing" difficult because the durations between attempts are brief, usually not exceeding two minutes, and I needed a longer time of about four to five minutes. If we had more time, I believe I would have lifted 232 kg.
**Diverse Tactics**
- You put your competitors under pressure after your first lift, especially from the Venezuelan competitor. Were you under pressure given their attempts against you?
- We had a tactic to deal with that. Our tactic in the snatch was to keep close to or at the same level or weight as our competitors. We had an advantage in the clean and jerk, but our snatch strategy differed, where we would be at the nearest weights or even be a kilo or two less, compensating for that in the clean and jerk.
**Surprises Can Happen**
- When you entered the competition, you faced strong opponents. In every sport, competitors are known, along with their capabilities. Was there anxiety or fear, or were you confident of winning?
- There was a feeling of comfort due to the effort we had put into our preparations. However, surprises sometimes occur in weightlifting, and one must be cautious of existing competitors. For instance, the Venezuelan competitor was not on our radar; we were attuned to the Belarusian and Georgian competitors. The Belarusian, for example, lifted 180 kg × 222 kg in the 2019 World Championships, making him a very strong player. However, perhaps due to the pressure of the championship and lack of focus, he missed three snatch attempts and was eliminated, while the Venezuelan, whose previous records did not put him in the spotlight, showed up strongly in the Olympics.
**Great Confidence in Myself**
- Were you afraid of losing or did you feel, even for a moment, the possibility of your loss?
- No, I never felt that I would lose. Thank God I was confident in myself.
- What were your father's final words to you as your coach?
- He always told me, "You are the best." He always motivated me with that.
**Strength Areas for the Weightlifter**
- Where does the true strength of a weightlifter lie? Is it in the arms, feet, or what does a weightlifter need to show his true strength?
- It lies in the legs, especially the thighs and back; these are the most important in achieving success.
**The Sources of Confidence**
- We witnessed a very confident competition from you; where does this confidence that you entered the Olympics with come from, despite the tough competition?
- The confidence comes from the hard work done, planning, and effort invested in reaching the medal. We trained hard and engaged in extensive camps. My father and I agreed in 2014 to win the Tokyo 2020 gold medal. Additionally, I have a story from the Rio 2016 Olympics where there was a meeting with His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad. At that time, I was 18, the youngest weightlifter. I claimed I would win gold in Tokyo 2020, but the Sheikh suggested a bronze, to which I confidently replied that it would be gold, asserting I wanted gold. From 2016 until the moment of the Olympics, there’s been continuous work and significant effort; I had only ten days of rest throughout the entire year, during which I would still engage in light training. Thank God for that, as it established our confidence for the championship.
**Differences Between Competition and Training**
- Generally, a weightlifter trains by lifting weights, but during competitions, they may not achieve the same lifts. Why is that?
- Each competition has its nature, where conditions differ from one to another. Sometimes injuries occur, or there may be strong competitors disrupting your quest to achieve your intended lifts.
**No Room for Tactical Mistakes**
- During the attempt where you experienced significant difficulty in the competition, was that tactical, or was it genuinely challenging?
- When I lifted 225 kg, I found it tough because it’s a heavy weight needing special handling, and my best record is 228 kg, thus this weight was three kilograms less than my best attempt. That’s why I entered with utmost focus, following a specific tactic because weightlifting entails numerous tactics. Any mistake may lead to injuries and jeopardize the attempt. Hence, extreme focus is crucial, with no tactical errors that might negate all efforts.
**Various Deceptive Strategies**
- Are there deceptive strategies you can use to influence competitors?
- Certainly, there are many tactics. Many may not know what occurs behind the stage or in training locations, including changes in weights or observing competitors during training. For example, we saw the Belarusian lifter lifting poorly at 160 kg, leading us to exclude him from our considerations and focus on other competitors. What happens in those training environments does have an impact, and players might shout to throw off concentration; when they do that in front of me, I respond with a smile, which increases their tension.
**If I Had Longer Rest Time**
- If you had a longer rest break of five minutes, would you have lifted 232 kg?
- Yes, if I had two or three extra minutes, I would have managed it. Therefore, I say if we had additional minutes, I would have lifted that weight, but I aim to lift it in future competitions, God willing. If strong competitors don’t hinder our attempts, we will target that number.
**Promise in Paris**
- What are your ambitions following the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?
- My ambition is to achieve a second gold medal.
- Will there be changes in weight categories?
- Yes, there will be changes in weight soon; we are awaiting the new weights to be announced by the International Federation, leading us to either begin reducing weight or increasing.
**Training Hours**
- How many hours do you train daily?
- We train daily in two sessions, morning and evening, each lasting about two hours, totaling roughly 4 to 5 hours—only about ten days of leave per year.
**Everything Counts**
- How does your life run during training camps?
- We always strive to hold some simple activities between training sessions, but during camps, everything is organized meticulously, with scheduled training and sleep times. Nevertheless, under typical circumstances away from camps, matters are more relaxed.
**Other Favorite Sports**
- Are there other sports you like besides weightlifting?
- Equestrian; I enjoy watching that sport greatly.
**Eating Habits**
- Do you hold to any particular diet regularly?
- I love steak, but in training camps or before championships, I must eat fish for lunch daily.
**Is This Scientific or Mood-Based?**
- It's a mix of both, as my second training session involves lifting maximum weights. Eating meat or chicken can make you feel heavy, while fish is lighter and digests faster, which suits weightlifting. Since entering the camp last February until reaching Tokyo, fish has been present daily at lunch.
**Hobbies Outside of Competition**
- What do you enjoy doing during times without competitions?
- Before competitions, I read books, and if there are no competitions, I might play on the PlayStation.
**Additional Training Regimens**
- Are there different exercises from weightlifting that you perform?
- Yes, we do joint-strengthening exercises daily before competitions and also some running, though not often as it can impact the weightlifter's knee; timing is specific before competitions, involving perhaps ten repetitions of 50 meters, along with some cardio training that aims to maximize oxygen intake, benefiting us in competitions.
**Wonderful Feeling**
- After achieving this historic accomplishment, what is your current feeling after the Tokyo gold?
- It’s a wonderful feeling, as I feel proud to bring joy to the Qatari people and the Arab community. I've received immense support after the championship, a pride I will cherish for life. I constantly pray to continue bringing happiness to the Qatari people, making them always joyful and representing Qatar honorably in upcoming competitions and across various forums.
**Honoring Qatar**
- Who are the supporters who influenced you to achieve the Tokyo 2020 gold medal?
- My family, undoubtedly, have supported me tremendously, especially my father, to whom I owe the greatest credit for my success. He has always been by my side in every aspect—in training, through difficulties, and in successes. Likewise, the Qatar Weightlifting Federation has provided significant support, as has the Olympic Committee, particularly His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, who continuously supported me with advice, discussions, and attendance at competitions, which I value greatly. Above all remains His Highness, the Amir of our country, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, my greatest supporter. His call has made me ready to commence training now to prepare for the next Paris Olympics, seeing the Tokyo 2020 gold as the beginning for more accomplishments, God willing, with my promise to achieve a second gold medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
