We sat down with Al Wasl swimmer Mubarak Al Besher to discuss his hopes and dreams as he bids to qualify for the Rio Olympics in 2016. 

Name: Mubarak Al Besher

Date of birth: July 15, 1988

Birthplace: Dubai

Nationality: Emirati

City of residence: Dubai Club: Al Wasl, UAE National Team

Coach: Sergey Burkov and his assistant Mohamed El Zanaty

Favourite stroke: Breaststroke

PB in your best swimming event: 50m breaststroke 28.79 seconds, 100m breaststroke 1:04.17.

What’s your earliest swimming memory? I was at the Police Academy pool. It was my first time in the water and I was so scared that I hurt my coach, Rashid Al Mass, from clinging onto him too hard. He still has the scar!

Favourite swimmer: Ryan Lochte.

Inspiration/idol: I never really looked up to anyone in particular. But I truly admire Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid.

Nicest venue you’ve ever swum in: The Hamdan Sports Complex.

Career highlight/best achievement in the pool to date: My best race was at the 2011 Arab Games in Doha in the 100m breaststroke. I was placed fourth, but it was the first time I swam 1:04, which I did not expect.

Toughest swim meet you’ve ever been part of: London 2012, because I trained hard and didn’t do well. My event was on the first day and the opening ceremony was the night before it so I didn’t get much sleep.

Biggest dream/goal in swimming: I have two – to qualify to the World Championships in Kazan next year and to the Rio 2016 Olympics. Through qualification, not via a wildcard invitation. Then I can retire from swimming.

Short term goals in swimming: I’d like to make a final in the Asian Games this year and to swim a personal best. I also want to do well at the Arab Championships in Morocco.

Favourite meal: It’s a local meat dish we have here, called Makboos.

Favourite place to visit in the UAE: I love the desert, I go every day during the winter.

Least favourite part of swimming practice: I don’t like warming up and I don’t like doing long distance sets. The beginning and the end of each practice basically.

Other sports or hobbies: I love falconry.

Coolest person you’ve ever met: I don’t really get fazed by meeting famous people or athletes.

Favourite sporting moment you’ve ever watched: I love watching football and tennis. I’ll never forget Andre Agassi’s last match with Roger Federer in the 2005 US Open final.