Born: 1985 (Alexandria, Egypt)
Biography:
Nahla Ramadan Mohamed (Arabic: نهلة رمضان) was born on April 4, 1985, in Alexandria, Egypt. She is a renowned Egyptian weightlifter and is considered the pioneer of weightlifting in Egypt, Africa, and the Arab world. Throughout her career, Nahla Ramadan has made significant contributions to the sport and has represented Egypt at both the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics, competing in the heavyweight division, Nahla Ramadan faced numerous challenges. Unfortunately, she was unable to register a lift in the clean and jerk, resulting in her not finishing the competition. Despite this setback, Ramadan did not allow it to define her career and persevered to achieve greater successes in the future.
Eight years later, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Nahla Ramadan competed in the super-heavyweight category and performed exceptionally well. She secured a fifth-place finish, showcasing her remarkable strength and determination. However, it was not until later that the true extent of her achievement became apparent. In 2016, samples taken from the London 2012 Olympic Games revealed that the Armenian bronze medalist, Hripsime Khurshudyan, had tested positive for prohibited substances. As a result, Nahla Ramadan’s initial fifth-place finish was upgraded to fourth place, solidifying her standing as one of the top weightlifters in the world.
Nahla Ramadan’s remarkable achievements extend beyond the Olympic Games. In 2003, at the world junior weightlifting Grand Prix championship in Budapest, she showcased her incredible talent and potential. Ramadan emerged as the game’s top-ranked athlete after collecting three gold medals and breaking two world records, an unprecedented accomplishment for any Egyptian athlete, regardless of gender, in the sport.
At just 18 years old, Nahla Ramadan set a new world record of 145 kg in the jerk, surpassing Bulgaria’s Krenz Geuiguny by two kilograms. Moreover, she established a new world record in the total number of kilograms lifted, reaching 260 kg, surpassing her previous record of 255 kg that belonged to Geuiguny. Though she fell short of breaking the snatch world record, Nahla Ramadan still heaved an impressive 115 kg to clinch her third gold medal at the championship.
In addition to her successes at the Grand Prix championship, Nahla Ramadan has also excelled at various other international competitions. In 2002, she won two silver medals and a bronze at the World Championships in the Czech Republic. The following year, she secured two bronze medals for the Clean & Jerk lift and total at the World Championships in Poland. In 2006, Ramadan won the bronze medal for the Snatch lift at the World Championships in the Dominican Republic, further solidifying her status as a global weightlifting sensation.
Nahla Ramadan’s list of accolades extends to the All-Africa Games as well. In 2003, she won three gold medals at the World Weightlifting Championships – Women’s 75 kg, benefiting from the disqualification of the Chinese weightlifting champion, Shang Shichun, due to a failed drug test. Additionally, she achieved remarkable success at the 2007 All-Africa Games, where she proudly secured three gold medals, highlighting her dominance in the sport.
Nahla Ramadan’s inspiring journey towards weightlifting greatness was shaped by her upbringing and family background. Born into a family of weightlifters in Alexandria’s district of Al-Wardyan, she inherited a passion and talent for the sport. Her father, Ramadan Mohamed El-Sayed, was a national weightlifting champion and later became the head coach of the Alexandria weightlifting zone. Nahla’s elder sister, Nagham, also made her mark on the international weightlifting scene.
During her schooling years at the Cleopatra Experimental School in Alexandria, Nahla Ramadan’s extraordinary abilities attracted the attention of Yurden Ivanov, a Bulgarian weightlifting champion. Ivanov, who was appointed as the head coach of all Egyptian national teams, recognized her potential and talent. Nahla Ramadan became a shining example of dedication, determination, and perseverance, representing her country and making history in the world of weightlifting.
Awards:
– 2003 World Junior Weightlifting Grand Prix: Three gold medals, two world records
– 2002 World Championships: Two silver medals, one bronze medal
– 2003 World Championships: Two bronze medals
– 2006 World Championships: Bronze medal for Snatch lift
– 2003 All-Africa Games: Three gold medals
– 2007 All-Africa Games: Three gold medals