Olympic Track and Field Champion Mutaz Essa Barshim Recounts the Road to his Success in Land Rover's Newest ‘My Journey, My Inspiration' Film

MYLAND Film Series Tells the Story of a Young Boy’s Inspiration Driving Him to Inspire a Nation and a Region.

Dubai, August 04, 2015: Land Rover MENA has worked closely with Qatari Olympic athlete Mutaz Essa Barshim to reveal the fourth instalment of its ‘My Journey, My Inspiration’ film series. Despite bursting into the limelight at a young age, this star athlete has remained grounded. His film is the account of a young man who used hard work and desire to pursue his dream and inspire others across the region to do the same.

The ‘My Journey, My Inspiration’ series which was released earlier this year embodies the sentiment behind Land Rover’s latest MYLAND creative communications platform and is a collaboration between the brand and inspirational achievers from the region who have shaped their land. The achievers, from Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait and the UAE, all share one thing in common: inspired by the culture and heritage of their land, they have succeeded in truly going above and beyond in their accomplishments.

Growing up in Doha, Qatar, amongst a family of athletic enthusiasts, Mutaz was always likely to pursue a life as an athlete. Inspired by his father, he initially followed in his footsteps and competed in race-walking, endurance running and long jump events, before switching to the high jump and truly coming into his own at the age of fifteen. 

Commenting on his journey, Mutaz said: “For outsiders looking in, when someone reaches any form of success the accomplishment may seem to have been achieved overnight. However, in almost all cases, a process and accumulation of efforts led the person to the top. This rings very true for my own personal journey, I am grateful to have achieved so much, and my successes has been many years in the making.”

Since winning his first junior gold medal, he has won title after title, culminating in being crowned champion at the World Indoor Championships in 2014. He is the 8th man in history to clear 2.40m, and in 2014 became one of only four athletes to clear 2.43m.
 
When asked how he has been inspired by his land, Mutaz says: “Once I reached a level of international success I realised how much people took notice and in turn were inspired. The feeling is unbelievable and you understand that you not only represent yourself but your family, your land, your people and culture. This is a feeling I carry around with me all the time. Now my focus has shifted more towards inspiring a nation and a region. If I show what I can achieve through hard work, other people will realise the same possibilities exist for them in whatever they choose to do.”

Most recently, Mutaz was nominated as a finalist for the Athlete of the Year award, and supported Qatar’s successful bid to host the IAAF World Championship in 2019. His advice to aspiring young achievers is: “People will always have dreams but you need to be able to adjust dreams as you go, always strive for success in whatever you do.”