“IT WAS A LIFETIME MOMENT”

Winning any sort of Olympic medal is a dream come true for an athlete, so Yazan Al Sadeq, can be respected when looking back on a “lifetime moment”.
The former Taekwondo star was one of six Team Jordan athletes who competed at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore in 2010.
The event attracted over 3,500 athletes representing 204 national Olympic Committees and Al Sadeq won a bronze medal in the 73kg category, adding to a silver won by teammate Dana Haidar, to make it a memorable event for Jordan.
“We had participated in many championships and won various medals, but the Singapore medal was totally different for me,” said Yazan.
“It was a lifetime moment to be on the podium of an Olympic event. That moment is unforgettable for me and one that I recall nearly every day since.”
He qualified after clinching gold in the Olympic qualification championship held in Mexico earlier that year and went on to win more global glory that summer.
“I added a silver in the World Youth Championships so it was quite a remarkable year for Jordan Taekwondo at that time. Me and Dana were training hard and we got the job done.”
Dana won her Youth Olympic silver three days prior to Yazan and he said that it was the ideal motivation for him to clinch his own piece of history.
Now, with Jordan preparing a record sized delegation for the third Youth Olympics in three weeks’ time in Buenos Aires, Yazan has a strong message of support.
“This event only comes around once in your lifetime as an eligible athlete,” he said. “It’s a moment where you will hold up your life, seize your chance and make Jordan proud of you. Don’t leave anything behind. Give everything you have and enjoy the experience.”