Fanous steps up Olympic bid

AMMAN — Triathlete Lawrence Fanous has closed the gap on his Asian rivals as he bids to secure a spot for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

The 30-year-old has stepped up his qualification bid through a series of events through Asia and, at the weekend, he finished 32nd at the ITU Tongyeong World Cup race, in Korea. It could have been a lot better for Lawrence with the England-based athlete sitting in the top 20 entering the final lap of the last leg on foot.

But despite dropping back he was happy with his race heading into Hong Kong this weekend. “I felt I deserved more. I’ll just have to make it all come together next week at the Hong Kong Asian Cup,” Fanous said. Another good performance is crucial in Hong Kong as the two-time Arab champion needs to play catch up on his rivals sitting above him in the Olympic spot.

“At the moment South Korea sits in the Asian qualifying spot and I currently have China and Hong Kong in front of me but I am very capable of beating these guys and have done on a number of occasions before. “It is not easy but I am over the problems I have endured earlier this year and will give it my best shot to get Jordan to Rio,” said Fanous.