A team of seven athletes first represented the United Arab Emirates at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, however Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum is the country’s only Olympic champion to date.
He won gold in the double trap at the 2004 Athens Games. He also finished fourth in the trap, and in Beijing finished seventh in double trap.
Here we take a look at seven Emiratis aiming to repeat his golden heroics in London...
SHEIKH SAEED Al MAKTOUM - Shooting, men’s skeet -
The nephew of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will be looking to do his country proud. This is his fourth Olympics.
MOHAMMED ABBAS DARWISH - Athletics, men’s triple jump - The likable Darwish only took to the triple jump seriously three years ago and his one big aim is to make the final.
HUMAID AL DEREI - Judo, men’s 66kg - The Abu Dhabi-based 21-year-old cannot wait for the Games to begin and is excited about competing on the big sporting stage.
SHEIKH JUMA AL MAKTOUM - Shooting, men’s double trap - The 27-year-old won silver at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou in the men’s double trap event.
BETHLEHEM DESALEGN - Athletics, women’s 1,500m - The 20-year-old runner booked her place by making the qualifying mark back in June.
ISMAIL MATAR - Football - The Al Wahda striker, one of the three over-23-year-olds picked in Mahdi Ali’s squad, is looking to repeat his 2007 Gulf Cup heroics.
MUBARAK AL BESHER - Swimming, men’s 100m breaststroke - UAE swim coach Jay Benner told 7DAYS Al Besher has a lot of talent and should set a new national record in London.
