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Dubai: Four years after Shaikh Ahmad Mohammad Hasher Al Maktoum bagged the UAE's first Olympic medal, he says he is still waiting for the changes he thought it would bring.
He thought the gold medal would bring a more professional ethos to shooting in the country.
But the Olympic shooter says it has not happened and accused those in charge of wasting the legacy of his win.
"I earned the gold medal, they gave it away," said Shaikh Ahmad.
He decided to quit the sport but recently returned in order to defend his double trap Olympic gold medal next month in Beijing.
Shaikh Ahmad said he would like "to go out there and give it my best shot".
"I really don't have anything to lose. After seven long years of hard work, I brought glory to my country in Athens, and then they just threw the medal away.
"Four years down the line and nothing has changed either for me or for the other shooters or for the sport here.
"I do not want to name anyone for this, I will leave it up to the fans to decide who gave my medal away."
Since winning the medal, life has changed for Shaikh Ahmad on a personal level as he is now married and has a daughter.
Not professional
"I thought life would change, the sport would change and people in charge would look at things in a more professional manner. But nothing like this has happened and we are still at the same level compared to 2004," he said.
"I am 45 and I need to make a living. I don't need something like my shooting that will keep me away from my family and take me away from my business and hobbies.
Shaikh Ahmad also criticised the the UAE Shooting Association.
He said: "Realistically, we have a dead association, but when it comes to achievements they are there to hog the limelight and take credit for someone else's accomplishments."
With his late decision to go to the Beijing Games, Shaikh Ahmad has had little time to train.
Neither has he participated in any other major competition in the four years ago since he claimed gold.
"I've done all that was needed to bring my country to a level where it deserves to be. I don't feel guilty about anything. I shouted, I screamed and people did not like it," he said.
"But if I don't scream for my country then what am I supposed to do?
"Yes, I am complaining because I love my country. And yet nothing is being done to improve anything in shooting here."
Games approach
But for now Shaikh Ahmad is concentrating on defending his title.
"I have Josh [Lakatos] as my trap coach. He gave me the foundation and he came here whenever I wanted to.
"If you ask me, I don't believe in a coach. But he will be there with me for the next month because he will be my most severe critic.
"Off the line I need a good manager. Each shooter has a different personality. In my case, there are things that I tend to forget and as a professional I would expect Josh to remind me about these details."
The UAE shooter also plans no major changes in his style or approach.
"I will do it my way. I will change nothing. In Trap, I still shoot his technique, but in the Double Trap I have a style of my own and I intend continuing with it," he said.
Olympics: 'Time for footballersto deliver'
The UAE's only Olympic gold medallist has called on the national football team to deliver on the preferential treatment he says they receive.
Shaikh Ahmad said the UAE should concentrate on individual events rather than team sports if the nation was to win more medals.
He said: "Everyone here is so passionate about football. Everyone is supporting the sport and so much of money is spent.
"But what I would like to know is how much glory has the football team brought to this country?"
The UAE's highest point of glory in football was an appearance at the 1990 Fifa World Cup in Italy.
"Based on the preferential treatment that the authorities have been giving football, I think it is time for the football team to go and bring some gold. I seriously think the country needs to wake up. We are best suited for individual sports, and hence, adequate attention needs to be paid to sportsmen who can bring glory to the UAE. It is no secret that we need to concentrate on individual sports if we want someone to come forward and fill in my shoes and go one better than what I have achieved."
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