Venezuelan Olympic gold medallist delivers food to support his family and dreams - in pictures


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Ruben Limardo Gascon became a national hero in Venezuela after winning a gold medal in fencing at the 2012 London Olympics.

But in Poland, where he has lived for years, he has taken up delivering food for Uber Eats to support his family as he trains for the Olympics in Tokyo next year.

Every day after training, he jumps on his bike and crisscrosses the city of Lodz, where he lives with his wife and two children, delivering food to people’s doorsteps.

Given the precarious global economic climate, Limardo is grateful to have a job, particularly one that gives him time for training.

“There is no sponsorship now because there is no competition, but I still have to generate some resources to support my family,” Limardo told the Associated Press.

The 35-year-old athlete responds to orders that ping on his phone up to 12 times a day. On his phone he also has photos of himself in competition and on top of the Olympic podium. He is training with his mind set on winning more Olympic medals in Tokyo and beyond “for myself and for Venezuela.”

‘’I don’t want to leave the sport because I still have a dream,’’ Limardo said.

With a mask covering his face these days, fans of fencing have little chance of recognising the Olympic gold medalist.

But some know about him and ask for selfies and take the opportunity to chat with the native of Ciudad Bolivar.

Limardo moved to Poland, which has a long tradition in fencing, some 20 years ago as a teenager to train on the épée, the heaviest of modern fencing weapons. He won gold in individual epee at the 2007 Pan American Games and at the 2006 and 2008 championships in Poland.

His gold medal from London is the second Olympic win ever for a Venezuelan, making him a celebrity in his native land.

He competed in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in the individual and team épée competitions, but failed to secure any medals.

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
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The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos

Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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THE SPECS

GMC Sierra Denali 1500

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Price: Dh232,500

Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face

The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.

The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran. 

Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf. 

"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said. 

Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer. 

The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.