JEDDAH, 6 June 2008 — With a heavy heart Maki Al-Mubiareek resigned from gymnastics, ending a 10-year career that saw him bring many laurels for the Kingdom.

While he still had a lot to contribute as a member of the national team Al-Mubiareek made the difficult decision to quit because of obstacles, not to mention frustration, in the pursuit of the sport he loves.

“I had to do it. I no longer was able to bear the difficulties I face from the lack of cooperation between the Ministry of Education where I work as a Physical Education teacher and the Saudi Arabian Gymnastics Federation,” Al-Mubiareek told Arab News in an interview.

“I felt really sad because I believe I still could give more and help grow the sport. But nothing motivated me to continue, and it is about time I do something for my future,” he said.

Despite leaving the sport arena Al-Mubiareek is looking forward to continue in another capacity, perhaps as coach of the national team. He wants the national players to benefit from his training under foreign coaches that the federation now employs to help develop gymnastics in the country.

Under the revamped federation Al-Mubiareek is hoping things would improve and that the interests of the players are given priority.

According to Al-Mubiareek, the Ministry of Education is one of the main reasons athletes leave their national teams. Whether they are students or teachers, they always face difficulties trying to leave school when there is a need for a training camp, he said.

For example, if he has a championship in three months’ time, and he requests to leave, they would tell him its too early and that he could go a week or two before the event and that would be enough. “And yet you get blamed for not securing an respectable achievement or medal,” Al-Mubiareek said with a tinge of frustration. “We have to learn how to attract youth to the sport and keep them hooked. We have talents and I know I could have done better if I had better positive environment and cooperation,” he said.

Reaching the World Cup was one of his goals. “I did that five times and reached the finals and placed ninth in Belgium in 2005 in the vault event, and fifth in the men’s event in Germany in 2006,” he said.

He also placed fifth in the 2006 World Cup (youth) in Iran in the vault, and won the gold in pommel horse and silver in the still rings in the Asian Gymnastics Artistic Championship in India in 2005.

His second goal was to win in the Pan Arab Games. He indeed played in Algeria and placed fourth in 2004, and in 2007 Egypt Pan Arab Games he failed because he traveled with an injury. ”I saw my friend competing and my tears just fell on my face. I didn’t want to travel with injury. I wanted to be fit and do well but I did not get the treatment needed and failed to bring a medal though had I trained hard I was certain I’d get a gold or silver,” he said.

His last and third goal was to win the 15th Asian Games in 2006, and though he did not make it, he was the first Arab to reach the finals and placed sixth.

Of his many achievements Al-Mubiareek ranks the pommel horse bronze in the

2005 Greece Gymnastics Open Championship as the best. The year 2005 was when he managed to bring the country the largest number of medals in Saudi history from international championships, Al-Mubiareek said.

Now a PE teacher, Al-Mubiareek will enroll next September at King Saud University for his master’s degree in Physical Science.

“My choice came naturally I guess because I’m too involved into sports and I hope others could benefit with my experience which is based on knowledge,” he said.