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| Jihan El Midnay |
In 2010 Jihan El Midany became the first woman to carry the Egyptian national flag into an Olympic cermony - the Youth Olympics in August. She competed in the pentathlete event (fencing, swimming, riding, shooting and running) coming 12th.
In an interview at the time, she said: "I was sick and dizzy. After fencing, I felt like collapsing, and after the swim I was really tired.I never really thought of eating, but I thought of drinking because I’ve been perspiring a lot. While training I was fasting but when I was sick, I had to take medication so I did not fast.”
The games took place last year during the Muslim month of Ramadan hence the references to fasting.
The sixteen year old had to make some tough clothing decisions - confronting her own traditional views of women's dress.
She has said in interviews that she was initially reluctant to wear the revealing swimwear but her family persuaded her that it would be alright as she couldn't compete without conforming to the competition dress rules.
She has said in interviews that she was initially reluctant to wear the revealing swimwear but her family persuaded her that it would be alright as she couldn't compete without conforming to the competition dress rules.
I came across El Midany's story reading Egyptian blogger Egyptian Chronicles, you can read more over at this post on the blog Muslim Women in Sport.
What do you think about the sportswear some athletes have to wear - swimming and beach volley-ball spring to mind?
What do you think about the sportswear some athletes have to wear - swimming and beach volley-ball spring to mind?
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