I feel a freedom when I start running. If I don’t train, I feel like everyone else in the Gaza Strip.

I don’t have proper places to run.

If there’s an incursion I don’t go out of the house.

If the Palestinian Olympic Committee or Palestinian Federation provide good facilities to the athletes then maybe I can become better than these Bahraini or Qatari athletes.

I have a coach but there’s nobody at my level in Gaza. I have to do most of my training sessions on my own.

I practice on the roads of Gaza as we don’t have good stadiums and tracks so I gave my best.

I am very optimistic, and I wish that God almighty grants me success to get a qualifying time. Only then can I go to the Olympics. If this happens I will be the first Palestinian...