Touching stories behind the first Olympics gold medals at Rio
Updated: 2016-08-18 14:31
(chinadaily.com.cn and Agencies)
Fehaid Aldeehani of Independent Olympic Athlete poses with his gold medal on August 10, 2016 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. [Photo/Agencies] |
Fehaid Aldeehani: First stateless athlete to win gold medal
Kuwait's Fehaid Aldeehani, competing as an independent, captured men's double trap gold by defeating Italy's Marco Innocenti in the final match.
With Kuwait suspended by the IOC, Aldeehani and seven other athletes were allowed to compete as independents in Rio.
"The interests and future of Kuwait come first. This victory confirms that we deserve better," he said.
Although Aldeehani was not entitled to have the Kuwait national anthem played when he took to the podium, his victory led to a wave of euphoria in the Gulf state.