CAIRO — The Egyptian national weightlifting team delivered a powerhouse performance at the 2025 African Championship in Mauritius, capturing 12 medals — including nine golds — from just four competitors, reaffirming the nation’s continental supremacy in the sport.
From the vibrant arenas of Mauritius to the Olympic podiums on the horizon, Egypt’s lifters are building their legacy on raw strength, strategic preparation, and unyielding resolve — rewriting records with every lift.
Complementing their athletic triumphs, Egypt also claimed a leadership milestone as Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud, President of the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation and head of the delegation, was elected Vice President of the African Weightlifting Federation.
Golden lifts
Topping the list of standout performances was Abdelrahman Younis, who was named Best Weightlifter in Africa after a flawless campaign in the 81 kg category.
Younis clinched gold in all three lifts, registering 162 kg in the snatch, 183 kg in the clean and jerk, and a 345 kg total — completing a flawless golden treble.
Younis’s performance wasn’t just dominant — it was a statement. A demonstration of elite athleticism, mental fortitude, and peak conditioning that hints at even greater achievements to come on the global stage.
In the 67 kg class, Ahmed Said further fueled Egypt’s gold rush. He snatched 130 kg to claim silver, then powered through a 151 kg clean and jerk to take gold, culminating in a 281 kg total that earned him a second gold.
His focused, consistent lifts underscored the depth of Egypt’s male talent pool and his potential as an Olympic medal contender.
Egypt’s female lifters also delivered with pride and power. Noura Essam, competing in the 55 kg division, showed immense grit and determination to take three bronze medals, recording 82 kg in the snatch, 100 kg in the clean and jerk, and a 182 kg total — a testament to her perseverance and rising stature in African weightlifting.
The breakout star of the competition was Basma Ramadan, who etched her name into the record books. Competing in the 49 kg category, Basma swept three golds, capping her campaign by shattering the African clean and jerk record with a lift of 88 kg.
Her total haul — and the record-breaking performance — cemented her as one of the most exciting prospects in the sport and a potential flagbearer for Egypt at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Leadership with a vision
Back home, the team’s triumph sparked widespread celebration and received strong praise from Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, who lauded the achievement as a testament to Egypt’s continued commitment to sporting excellence and its Olympic ambitions.
Sobhi stated that the results affirm the strategic and scientific approach adopted to cultivate a new generation of Olympic champions.
Sobhi credited the team’s success to the close collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Egyptian Olympic Committee, national federations, and the scientific committee. He underscored that Egypt’s ascent in sports is driven by a strong infrastructure, systematic talent development, and the expansion of grassroots programs.
Sobhi emphasized the need to align with international high-performance benchmarks and announced the adoption of a new, results-driven athlete selection framework ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
In a pivotal meeting with the President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee and heads of national sports federations, Dr. Sobhi affirmed that future Olympic participation will be strictly merit-based, guided by medal potential and data-driven evaluations — marking a decisive shift away from the era of symbolic representation.
The path forward
Federation President Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud praised the team’s all-round performance, emphasizing that the results are not just victories in the moment, but building blocks for long-term success.
“This is a turning point for us,” Abdel Maqsoud said. “Ahmed Said’s dedication, Abdelrahman’s dominance, Basma’s record-breaking lift — these are the fruits of our technical and administrative teamwork. But they’re also just the beginning.”
He extended heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Egyptian Embassy in Mauritius, highlighting the critical role of logistical and institutional support in the team’s success. “Without their backing, this mission would not have been possible.”
Eyes on Los Angeles
The Egyptian contingent in Mauritius may have been small — just four athletes — but their impact was massive. Weightlifters Basma Ramadan, Noura Essam Helmy, Ahmed Said, and Abdelrahman Younis defied expectations, dominated events, and sent a clear message: Egypt is back at the top of African weightlifting — and hungry for more.
Their efforts were also praised by Captain Ismail Moussa, President of the North African Modern Pentathlon Federation, who applauded Basma Ramadan’s record-breaking lift and predicted she would be among the stars at Los Angeles 2028.
The 2025 African Championship was more than just a competition — it was a mission accomplished and a bold declaration of Egypt’s sporting ambition. With world-class lifters, data-driven strategies, and unwavering political support, Egyptian weightlifting is now locked on a single target: Olympic medals.
