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Rabat – The UAE Athletics Federation has dismissed the former Moroccan Olympic track champion, Said Aouita, from its technical staff.
The federation sacked Said Aouita on Sunday after Emirati athletes delivered disappointing performances in the 18th Asian Games, held from August 18 to September 2, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The supervisory board examined the Emiratis performances and decided to sack the coach. The board argued that they provided all the necessities to both technical staff and athletes through long-term training camps with the supervision of a renowned coach, Aouita.
The federation added that the Asian Games are an important step to prepare for the coming 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The federation is now looking for a new coach who can deliver prominent results at the Olympics.
The UAE sent 12 athletes to the Asian Games. The athletes returned home with 14 medals: 3 gold medals, 6 silver, and 5 bronze.
Aouita, who gained fame in athletics, was a world champion. Aouita was a middle and long-distance runner who broke multiple world records.
Aouita stunned the world when he broke his own record for the 5,000 meter in 1987 with a time of 12:58.39. Aouita was the first man to run the 5,000 meter race in under 13 minutes, a feat he accomplished at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics in Rome.
