Shock Omission of Mohamed Khawaja from Libya's Squad for London 2012

A proud moment for Libyan athlete Mohamed Khawaja, photographed near the board marking his personal best time for the 400 metres at the African Athletic Champion-ships in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2010

Khawaja Was Libya's Only Hope for a First-Ever Medal at Olympic Games

IF ever Libya entertained any hope of winning its first medal in an Olympic Gmes, then London 2012 was it. This could have been achieved through 24-year-old 400 metres runner Mohamed Ashour Khawaja, winner of gold medals in the 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy, and the African Athletic Championships in Nairobi, Kenya in 2010. But our hopes have been dashed as Khawaja is not even in the Libyan team to go to the Olympic Games that start on July 27.

Libyans, and not only sports lovers have been shocked to learn that Mohamed Khawaja has not even been considered for a place in the Libyan squad as he failed to reach the required minimum standard for the 400 metres event, and therefore did not qualify to participate on behalf of Libya. That means that Africa’s top athlete in the distance will not form part of theLondon 2012 event.

Khawaja's ID could have more than qualified him for a place in the Olympic Games. Besides winning gold in both the last Mediterranean Games and the African Championships, in the past three years he also finished seventh in his semi-final heat of the men's 400 metres at his first World Championship, the 2009 World Championships, and won bronze in the IAAF Continental Cup in Split, in the 4x400 metres relay.

The current Libyan national record holder over 400 metres' time of 44.98 sec for the distance in Nairobi would have given him fifth placing at the Beijing Games. The minimum standard time for the London Games for the distance is: 45.30 – 45.90, which is quite inferior to Khawaja's time. His time in Nairobi was 0.32 sec quicker.

Last year, 2011 was a write-off in terms of competition for him or for any Libyan athlete. Revolution was not conducive to racing. However, despite all the tribulations and the sacrifices he had to go through, along with the Libya people throughout last year the international media still believed Khawaja was the athlete holding Libya's Olympic hopes.

Libya has never won an Olympic medal of any description, but Mohamed was looking to change that in London. Although he found it hard to resume his form and get back into a set pattern to his training schedule, that could have returned him to his best, the pre-revolution level, he was determined to be Libya's flag bearer in London.

Mohamed Khawaja could also have represented Libya in the 200 metres sprint. He holds the national record for the distance of 20.91 sec.

At just 65 kilos and well under 1.8 metres, Mohamed is surprisingly slight for a 400-metre man. He has been described as a pocket model of his heroes, Jamaican Usain Bolt and American Michael Johnson.To say that he carries not an ounce of fat barely does him justice. But he was so enthusiastic and determined.

He knew, as all of us Libyans knew, that success of any kind in London would have been a boost for the country which is still trying to find its feet. Mohamed sees himself as a face of the new Libya.

He believed that success of any kind in London would have been a boost for this country which is still trying to find its feet.

He had been telling everybody that just to raise Libya's new red, black and green flag at London's opening ceremony would have been a victory in itself.

But his dream for this Olympiad is shattered. He blames much of it on the Libyan sports authorities, the Libyan Olympic Committee and the Libyan Athletics Federation by the looks of it. He claims that he was informed late about the required qualification time in order for him to be confirmed as a participant in the London 2012 Olympic Games. They made a mess of it.

Mohamed told The Tripoli Post that he was not given ample time to reach his best; only 70 days (from April 16 to June 17) to complete the task of achieving the required minimum qualifying time.
As it turned out, Rio 2016 could be a more realistic target for Mohamed Khawaja. He will be 28 then and still at his best.

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