44 THE GOOD CHANGE
SHEIKH AHMAD MOHAMMAD HASHER AL MAKTOUM Many people first practice one sport before switching to another and maybe even to another one after that. This phenomenon is especially noticeable among children. There are of course exceptions, such as Sheikh Ahmad Mohammad Hasher Al Maktoum (shooting, United Arab Emirates), who made the change at an adult age. Despite being a squash national champion, Sheik Ahmad felt that he could still achieve something more in sport. At the age of 34, he switched to shooting. This change was crucial for his sports accomplishments and for his country. In the Athens 2004 Olympic Games he won a gold medal in the double trap event. It was the first and, so far, only Olympic gold medal for the United Arab Emirates. Prior to that Sheikh Ahmad had participated in the Arab Games 1999, where he won a gold medal in the shooting event
SUDANESE NATIONALITY
TODD MATTHEWS JOUDA In recent years, sports fans have become used to an increasing number of athletes changing their nationalities. Perhaps this is a reflection of a globalized world, in which borders between nations have become less important than in the past. In the case of Todd Matthews Jouda (athletics, Sudan) he changed his citizenship from the United States of America to Sudan on September 18, 2003. This allowed him to compete for Sudan at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, in which he was also the country’s flag bearer in the Opening Ceremonies. In the same year, he competed in the Arab Games, in which he won a gold medal in the 110 m hurdles race.
Sheikh Ahmad Al Maktoum kissing his rifle celebrating his Olympic victory in 2004 © Getty Images
SPORT MEGA-EVENTS
Todd Matthews Jouda at the Athens 2004 Olympics © IOC