![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4HG56M75GESQZ5V6M2PDTTC57Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=38079d514a95489a110fd2aff0e85f2b68e139b812448b5cbdb01411d2325520&width=400&height=225)
Noureddine Hadid is Lebanon's fastest man, holding the national records in the 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CEG47THEZIGV7JUGNKOZ4HNTKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4c8adb4ff39be5736ff6e45960c338aebe6090273873e129870d4a1eba3b56ff&width=400&height=225)
Lebanon's fastest man and woman (Nour Hadid and Aziza Sbaity) are training partners and good friends. They are both competing for the one 'Universality' place reserved for Lebanon at the Tokyo Olympics. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CPKW6FHRCB6GFYFFRUDMVFFPEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f33e239590e2575db6b629d6f2ebdede5d8fbe9b9f4e2bd340594e074829cdf1&width=400&height=225)
Nour Hadid pulls up in his modified Honda Civic to the race track at Collège Notre Dame de Jamhour, Beirut, Lebanon. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ANA7YVP2WJ5YT4X3KAW2NZ3FUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c53f8696be53879616b848918dfe06277e6bd28f977898e0fe9376a1980278e3&width=400&height=225)
Due to the financial collapse in Lebanon, and a lack of sponsors, Nour struggles to afford new running gear. Spikes should be replaced every few months, his are over two years old. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I5GYQB4FWYWCC5IOTMPPV2RYYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ac3812bd6cfbe0cb18bebc38beb12f76b6809410055e3bc16052af9e4721a6b4&width=400&height=225)
Nour Hadid trains at The Université Antonine gym, Beirut, Lebanon. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GPRM2452BD74EXGKQHPYTFOHSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=beee8de3f2568456b24b7e9ffda380e73c1956224e13fefc61795f9b043d07dc&width=400&height=225)
Nour Hadid waits for confirmation of his time after a comfortable win at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon on 29 May 2021. Christel Saneh for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JIZOWZYFLCZE5EZCZH5UZQU5WQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=897643b726a27c19a2ea4325aebd8508c475350f103fde2759a760038476037d&width=400&height=225)
Nour Hadid eases to a comfortable 200m win at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon on 29 May 2021. Christel Saneh for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNBOZ62ZGBBUMZ57ICWS4OQXNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=da6dc9dfc32d23490b35840fc6edf975d1dd3145e6531cd2c37e2ce9dacf02f6&width=400&height=225)
Nour Hadid stretches during a warm up at a training session at Université Antonine, Beirut. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4HG56M75GESQZ5V6M2PDTTC57Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=38079d514a95489a110fd2aff0e85f2b68e139b812448b5cbdb01411d2325520&width=400&height=225)
Noureddine Hadid is Lebanon's fastest man, holding the national records in the 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CEG47THEZIGV7JUGNKOZ4HNTKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4c8adb4ff39be5736ff6e45960c338aebe6090273873e129870d4a1eba3b56ff&width=400&height=225)
Lebanon's fastest man and woman (Nour Hadid and Aziza Sbaity) are training partners and good friends. They are both competing for the one 'Universality' place reserved for Lebanon at the Tokyo Olympics. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CPKW6FHRCB6GFYFFRUDMVFFPEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f33e239590e2575db6b629d6f2ebdede5d8fbe9b9f4e2bd340594e074829cdf1&width=400&height=225)
Nour Hadid pulls up in his modified Honda Civic to the race track at Collège Notre Dame de Jamhour, Beirut, Lebanon. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ANA7YVP2WJ5YT4X3KAW2NZ3FUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c53f8696be53879616b848918dfe06277e6bd28f977898e0fe9376a1980278e3&width=400&height=225)
Due to the financial collapse in Lebanon, and a lack of sponsors, Nour struggles to afford new running gear. Spikes should be replaced every few months, his are over two years old. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I5GYQB4FWYWCC5IOTMPPV2RYYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ac3812bd6cfbe0cb18bebc38beb12f76b6809410055e3bc16052af9e4721a6b4&width=400&height=225)
Nour Hadid trains at The Université Antonine gym, Beirut, Lebanon. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GPRM2452BD74EXGKQHPYTFOHSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=beee8de3f2568456b24b7e9ffda380e73c1956224e13fefc61795f9b043d07dc&width=400&height=225)
Nour Hadid waits for confirmation of his time after a comfortable win at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon on 29 May 2021. Christel Saneh for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JIZOWZYFLCZE5EZCZH5UZQU5WQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=897643b726a27c19a2ea4325aebd8508c475350f103fde2759a760038476037d&width=400&height=225)
Nour Hadid eases to a comfortable 200m win at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon on 29 May 2021. Christel Saneh for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNBOZ62ZGBBUMZ57ICWS4OQXNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=da6dc9dfc32d23490b35840fc6edf975d1dd3145e6531cd2c37e2ce9dacf02f6&width=400&height=225)
Nour Hadid stretches during a warm up at a training session at Université Antonine, Beirut. Matthew Kynaston for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4HG56M75GESQZ5V6M2PDTTC57Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=38079d514a95489a110fd2aff0e85f2b68e139b812448b5cbdb01411d2325520&width=400&height=225)
Noureddine Hadid is Lebanon's fastest man, holding the national records in the 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m. Matthew Kynaston for The National
Olympic Dreams: No money, no resources but Noureddine Hadid determined to keep racing into record books
Lebanon's financial collapse means Hadid's army salary doesn't go far, but his performances at both home and abroad have caught the eye
![Matthew Kynaston](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fbec31a01-185b-4e82-95e4-948b8865fecb.png?smart=true&auth=ce107872cebb844290d0a07f1eac49dcd181d1565d6805f105935609de20c819&width=70&height=70)
Matthew Kynaston
16 June, 2021
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