London 2012: Egypt's Gaber will not retire, eyes a third wrestling gold at Rio Olympics
Ahmed Abd El Rasoul, Saturday 11 Aug 2012
Egyptian hero Gaber is proud and astonished at his silver-winning performance, despite not training for 2 years; instead of retiring he aims to bring home the gold in the 2016 Olympics


Egyptian wrestler Karam Gaber has announced he will not retire after his recent achievement at the 2012 London Olympics Games insisting that winning another medal at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics in Brazil is his main target.

Gaber won the silver medal in the Greco-Roman event (84kg) after losing to Russia's Alan Khugaev on Monday.

Seizing the gold medal (96kg) in Athens in 2004, Gaber became the first Egyptian grappler to win two Olympic medals, making him the greatest Egyptian Olympian of all time.

"I am very proud I've made Egyptians happy after the recent terrible times. I dedicate the medal for the martyrs of Sinai and all people in Egypt," Gaber told Egypt's state-run news agency, MENA, on Saturday. Recently attacks at the Israeli-Egyptian border left many border patrol troops dead.

The achievement and stunning performances of the 32-year-old Egyptian wrestler at the London Olympics came despite his nearly two-year break.

"What I did in London is miraculous, because I just returned to trainings nine months after neglect that kept me on the sidelines for three years," explained Gaber.

"I thought I must retire after winning the medal in Athens, especially since the income of individual sports in Egypt is not enough for a stable life.

"Only one year before the London Games did I come under heavy pressure to return to the sport and my performance was evidence that I still have a lot to give.

"I will start postgraduate studies in wrestling and fitness to improve myself and then I can get a certificate that will qualify me to work as a coach in the coming period," concluded Gaber.

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