Legendary Marksman Defies the Odds: 53 Years of Passion Culminate in Historic Paralympic Gold Medal

Obaid Al Dahmani just made history. At 53, this Emirati Paralympic shooter won his 50th gold medal at the 2025 Paralympic Shooting World Cup in Al Ain. But this isn't just about numbers. Al Dahmani has cerebral palsy and has been physically disabled since childhood, yet he's become one of the UAE's most decorated Paralympic athletes.

Al Dahmani teamed up with Abdullah Sultan Al Aryani and Saif Al Nuaimi to win gold in the 50-meter rifle (3 positions) event. The trio also grabbed bronze in the 50-meter prone team competition. The championship wrapped up on November 5th in Al Ain.

His journey started in 2001 when he joined Al Ain Club. Back then, he tried different sports - track and field, basketball - before finding his calling in shooting in 2006. His first gold came in 2008, and he hasn't looked back since.

"My love for shooting goes back to my childhood," Al Dahmani told local media. "Moving to Al Ain in 1997 and getting married there was a turning point. That's when I discovered Al Ain Club for the disabled and got serious about sports."

He didn't stick to Paralympic competitions either. In 2005, Al Dahmani competed against able-bodied shooters at the Officers Club in Abu Dhabi. He came second in his first try, then won the whole thing the next year. That's when he knew he had something special.

The real breakthrough came in 2006 when he won his first world championship gold with the national team. Three years later in Korea, he set a world record with 598 points while winning four silver medals at the Korea Open.

Al Dahmani competes in four categories: prone air rifle and standing air rifle at 10 meters, plus prone rifle and 3-position rifle at 50 meters. His biggest win came at the 2014 Asian Para Games in South Korea, where he took gold in the 50-meter rifle event.

Between 2015 and 2017, he went on a tear. Gold at the World Cup in America, gold and bronze in Thailand, then five more medals across two World Cup events in 2017. In 2016, he and his teammates set a world record that still stands: 1,155 points in the 50-meter rifle 3-position team event.

The Paralympics have been tougher. Al Dahmani's team finished fifth in London 2012, and he set a personal best in Rio 2016. He missed Tokyo 2020 but has his sights set on the 2027 American Games. The 2026 World Cup in Al Ain could be his qualifying shot.

His path to Paris 2024 had drama. At the Asian Championships in China, Al Dahmani scored 607 points in the 10-meter standing air rifle but only placed ninth. Then officials caught a Chinese competitor cheating. Al Dahmani got moved to the finals, finished in the top four, and earned his spot in Paris.

For the UAE, Al Dahmani represents something bigger than medals. The country has been investing heavily in Paralympic sports as part of its broader push to become a regional sports hub. Athletes like Al Dahmani show that investment is paying off, especially in precision sports where the UAE has found success.

"My 50th gold isn't the end," Al Dahmani said. "I'm still pushing for more." At 53, with cerebral palsy, he's still competing at the highest level. That's the real story here.