Hadi Soua'an Al-Somaily

Saudi Olympic Athletics Champion and Runner Hadi Soua'an is a star who loves challenges and holds a master's degree. He became the first Saudi athlete to win an Olympic medal, securing the silver in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
He has won several gold medals in the 400 meters hurdles at various international and continental championships, most notably: the 2000 Asian Athletics Championships in Jakarta, the 2005 Championships in South Korea, the 1999 Arab Games in Amman and the 2004 Games in Algeria. He also won gold in both the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay at the 2002 Asian Games, as well as a gold in the 400m hurdles at the 2002 West Asian Games in Kuwait. He finished fourth at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics in Canada, preceded by a bronze medal at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia. His last major athletic appearance was at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where he placed fifth before announcing his retirement.
He ranked fourth in a poll organized by the American "Track and Field News" magazine among the top ten runners in the world. He received the Gold Order of Merit from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Order of Excellence from the Arab League. After retiring, he spread his expertise through various sports programs and committees dedicated to developing sports and the Olympic movement, and he currently chairs the Saudi Association of Olympic Players.