Bangladesh gymnast Syque Caesar speaks to the media during a programme hosted by the Bangladesh High Commissioner at Westminster Hall in London on Monday. — New Age photo

With a general look it is tough to distinguish him from the others. The same Asian dark brownish skin, average height, curly hair - one has no reason to think Syque Caesar any different than an average Bangladeshi.
But in reality he is actually very different. He speaks English fluently and understands most Bengali word, but speaks very few. His approach to others, way of communication – all are different from the other members of Bangladesh contingent in Olympics.
These are, however, not the only elements that make him different. He is more so because of the five Bangladeshis in Olympics only he has some kind of prospect.
One can still say Syque must be day dreaming if he thinks he can win an Olympic medal for Bangladesh. But for someone who grew up dreaming of making
it to the US Olympic team it would not be a miracle.
At least Syque does not want to put it in that way. Speaking to Bangladeshi media in London on Monday, he did not even rule of his chances of winning an Olympic medal.
‘It’s difficult to say if I will win any medal,’ Syque said. ‘All I can say is I am competitive at the level of everyone else.
‘Some of the best guys in the world sometimes mess up and they won’t even win a medal when they are favourites to win. It only matters how well you do on that day,’ he said.
‘I would not say it would be a miracle. I don’t think it out of the question.
‘I think it’s possible. There are a lot of people competing for the same medal, so it’s difficult, but it’s not impossible…….I have been training very hard for it,’ he said.
Syque said that if he had some luck or desire it was possible for him to make it to the US national team, at some stage of his career, if not in the Olympic team, where only five gymnasts get a chance.
Born in Florida, Syque is currently the captain of Michigan University gymnastic team and one of his close friend, room-mate and co-gymnast at the university team, Samuel Mikulak, has in fact made it in this Olympics for US.
‘I have been injured quite a bit so that’s hindered my progress. But I think at my best I could have made it to the US national team, but I don’t know whether I would have fit in the right place in Olympic team,’ said Syque.
‘To make it to the team being the best gymnast in one event doesn’t matter, you need to be best on certain events. The weak event in United States is Pommel Horse and Rings, so if you are weak on that event they will not even look at you,’ he said.
‘It’s very difficult. There are lot of guys in the US team who didn’t make it to the Olympic team. Only five guys get to go, but I think I can make the US team which consists of 15 members,’ said the 21-year old.
Syque added that it was at the instance of his father Quazi Caesar and coach Jeff Korgen that he chose to compete for Bangladesh and two years after he made the decision he has no reason to regret.
‘My bapa (father) want me to compete for Bangladesh. My coach is the one who came up with that first and said that I should look into competing for Bangladesh, so that I can compete in some international competition,’ he said.
‘I started the process in 2010 and then in 2011 I got my dual citizenship and started competing for Bangladesh and I did it without hesitation,’ said Syque.
His father Caesar had been a revelation in Bangladesh’s medical history as he was the first caesarian baby born at Dhaka Medical College in 1958. Only time can say that if he can be another revelation for Bangladesh, notwithstanding in a different arena called sports.