Olympics-Gymnastics-Yemen debutant already thinking of 2012

By Sonia Oxley

BEIJING, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Nashwan Al-Harazi put down his economics books to accept a wildcard to become Yemen's first male gymnast to compete at the Olympics and after a respectable debut on Saturday was already thinking about the next Games.

"I was surprised to get a wildcard," the 21-year-old economics student told reporters after his qualifying session.

"In the past I never even thought about the Olympics but now I've got new motivation. I will do my best to get to London (in 2012) without a wildcard."

One of the few gymnasts to stay up late to attend Friday's opening ceremony, he was clearly determined to make the most of his trip and even made some new friends.

"I got cheered on by the Italian and Spanish teams, they really encouraged me," he said.

Coached by his brother in Yemen's capital Sanaa, Al-Harazi spent the last nine months preparing in China and learnt from Chinese coaches when he was younger.

Although his Games is over after relatively low scores on the three apparatus he performed on -- floor, vault and pommel horse -- he is staying to watch a handful of compatriots compete in their events.

But they are not as good as him. "I am the best," he said with a smile. (Editing by Keith Weir) (For more stories visit our multimedia website "2008 Summer Olympics" here; and see our blog at blogs.reuters.com/china)