Timor's Xavier does it both on and off track

Timor's Xavier does it both on and off track

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Hanoi

Timor Leste's Xavier Do Rego was exhausted when he finished the
men's marathon inside My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on Friday.

Xavier, as he prefers to be called, came third last, meaning
the Timor Leste contingent is yet to win a medal in its first
turnout at the SEA Games, a biennial sporting showcase in the
Southeast Asian region.

Despite the result, Xavier was far from displeased with his
performance.

Being aware of the tough opposition from other participants,
he said he had not come to win a medal.

"I have come to gain experience. I have been looking to
improve my own mark," Xavier said.

Xavier shrugged off financial strains to register a time of
2:34:50 to break his best of 2:41 he set during the Asian Games
2002 in Busan, South Korea. "I feel satisfied because I have been
able to improve my record."

For the runner who had been training for only one month, the
performance proved Xavier's ability to rise to the challenge.

The achievement is greater when one considers that Xavier is
broke.

With only US$5 in his pocket when he arrived, Xavier said he
had already spent it.

"I bought soap, an orange, and other things. I have no more
money. When I complained to the delegation head, he said 'Where
do you think we can get more money from?'," Xavier said.

Xavier, who splits his time between training and construction
work, said he was used to hardship as he was not funded to train.

The team, comprising 12 athletes, was invited to participate
by the organizing committee, who paid for the team's flights and
accommodation.

Led by chef-de-mission Joao Carascalao, the squad competed in
karate, tae kwon do, boxing, tennis, weight lifting and the
marathon.

Like Xavier, Aquelino Manuel Da Costa did not appear to be too
concerned with his unsuccessful attempt in the karate
competition.

"This is the first time we have participated in the SEA Games.
We are not dreaming of victory," said Da Costa, who was
eliminated in the first round of the men's 60kg category.

Xavier and Da Costa were hopeful that they would be able to
improve next season.

Like what most athletes dream of, Xavier had set his sights on
the 2004 Olympics, which has set the marathon qualifying time at
2:36:00.

"The selection for the team will be next February," he said,
while calling on the Timor Leste sports authority to pay more
attention to the athletes' needs.