Yahya Habeeb

Who is Yahya Habeeb?

Yahya Hassan Ibrahim Habeeb is a Saudi Arabian track and field athlete who specialises in sprinting events. He was the gold medallist over 100 metres at the 2006 Asian Games and represented Saudi Arabia at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics. His best for the distance is 10.28 seconds.

He made his first appearance on the world stage at the age of fifteen, competing in the 100 metres and 200 metres events at the 2001 World Youth Championships in Athletics. The following year he won the 100 m at the Gulf Cooperation Council Youth Championships and was the silver medallist at the Pan Arab Junior Championships. He reached the quarter-finals of the 100 m at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He rose to prominence alongside fellow Saudi sprinter Yahya Al-Gahes, as Habeeb was the 100 m runner-up behind him at the 2003 World Youth Championships in Athletics and then the 2004 Asian Junior Athletics Championships.

Habeeb tested positive for the banned substance Prednisolone on the Asian Grand Prix circuit in 2004 and as a result he received a public warning and his mark at the competition was disqualified. He ran at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics later that season and was a semi-finalist. After a quiet 2005, he set a personal best of 10.28 seconds in Doha in May 2006. He went on to claim the national title and then won the 100 m at the 2006 Asian Games, defeating Naoki Tsukahara who was the pre-race favourite. He also helped the Saudi Arabian men to sixth place in the 4×100 metres relay.