Libyan weightlifter fights for Olympic dream
Libyan weightlifter Ahmed Abu Zeriba has faced war, economic hardships, and a global pandemic.
All to represent his country at the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games:
"I have faced many challenges. I'm a student and I try to balance my training and my studies. There is a lack of support, I don't have a monthly allowance to let me comfortably train and study at the same time."
The 20-year-old athlete has battled his way through international competitions -- he's now just one away from qualifying for the Olympics.
He began his journey in 2012 -- just one year after the uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.
Today he faces fresh challenges, with the North African country still split between opposing administrations, and most training facilities shut because of the pandemic.
Ahmed trains at a run-down gym in the coastal city of Misrata or sometimes even on the beach.
With almost no financial support from the state, he relies on coaches, like Khalil, who volunteer to help him.
"Ahmed will be an Olympic champion, this is the first time I’ve seen someone with such skill. He learns quickly, he loves the sport, and he has never missed a training session despite the harsh conditions we are suffering from, including the war and the coronavirus. Ahmed continues and overcomes these challenges and he will do well in international competitions and, God willing, the Olympics."
