Since he was a teenager, the Saudi Arabian Hamdan O. Al-Bishi has shown his capability to outclass his rivals - as he did in the men's 400m final at the World Junior championships in Santiago, when he clocked an astonishing 44.66 seconds, the second fastest junior time ever behind Steve Lewis in 1988 (43.87 seconds, Lewis also coached by John Smith). Al-Bishi's winning margin of 1.07 is the biggest ever registered at a world junior 400m championships final.

From the beginning John Smith recognized Bishi's potential, "He started the year with a best of 45.89, but as soon as I saw how he ran 45.22 in Sydney, I knew he was capable of a time well under 45 seconds."

Career Highlights:
2008
- 1st place 400m Asian Games
- 3rd place 400m Vilppula

2007
- 2nd place 400m PanAmerican Games

2006
- 1st place 400m Jeddah
- 1st place 400m Riyadh
- 1st place 400m Asian Games
- 1st place 400m Club Championships
- 1st place 4X400m Asian Games
- 2nd place 400m National Championships

2004
- 1st place 200m Pan Arab Games
- 1st place 400m Pan Arab Games

2003
- 2nd place 400m Asian Championships

2002
- 2nd place 400m Asian Games
- 2nd place 400m Asian Championships

2001
- 6th place 400m World Championships

2000
- 1st place 400m World Junior Championships
- 2nd place 400m Asian Championships