Egypt's cycling team is gearing up to make a significant impact at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, having secured four out of the five slots reserved for Africa. This achievement marks a remarkable rise for the North African nation in the continental cycling scene.
In recent years, Egypt has heavily invested in building a state-of-the-art cycling track and developing a robust team. These efforts have paid off, positioning Egypt as a formidable force in African cycling. Since the team's inauguration in 2021, Cairo has hosted numerous continental and international events, providing local cyclists with the exposure necessary to compete against the world's best.
Coach Mohamed Ibrahim highlighted the team's progress, stating, \"In the World Junior category we are advancing significantly, our players are ranked from 5th to 9th and we are now the fifth best nation in the world in that age category. We are now the Arab Champions and the African Champions against fierce competition from South Africa which used to dominate the continent.\"
Among the standout athletes is 19-year-old Shahd Saeed, who will make his Olympic debut in Paris as the new African record holder for the 500-meter sprint racing event. Saeed expressed his excitement, saying, \"I am surprised to have qualified. I didn't imagine that I would reach that far so fast. It's my dream to become an Olympic athlete. I will do my best to do well in the Paris Olympics. I hope to make my family and country proud.\"
Teammate Mahmoud Bakr added, \"We were not far from the international level in cycling. Recently we've become capable of challenging top athletes. We are still gaining experience. Hopefully soon we could be standing on a global podium.\"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
