Tarek Abou Al Dahab

Tarek Abou Al Dahab began cycling when he was young after borrowing his sister’s bicycle when she travelled abroad. Al Dahab soon joined the Sacred Heart Sports Club in Beirut, where his talent was noticed by the club’s President. In the late 1950s he travelled to Europe, competing in amateur races in France, Germany, and Hungary. Throughout the early 1960s he also rode in several editions of the Peace Race before returning home to Lebanon, where he became a five-time national champion.

In 1968 Al Dahab was one of 11 athletes that represented Lebanon at the Mexico City Olympics, with him being their only cyclist to compete. At the Games he competed in the road race, along with the sprint, time trial, and individual pursuit on the track. In 1972 he was once again Lebanon’s sole representative in cycling at the Olympics, again riding in the road race and the individual pursuit in München. Al Dahab continued to ride his bicycle around Lebanon into his later life, including riding 50 kilometres around the coast of Beirut each weekend whilst in his 80s.