Azmy Mehelba, a seasoned Egyptian shooter, is set to compete in his fourth Olympic Games at Paris 2024, with high hopes of clinching his first-ever medal.
Mehelba's impressive performance and top ranking by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) make him a strong contender for success on the Olympic stage.
The 33-year-old secured his spot in Paris by winning the skeet gold medal at the World Shotgun Championship 2022 for the first time in the country's history.
"I think nothing is better than qualifying for the Olympic Games," Mehelba told the international shooting sport federation
"As a world champion as it’s much more harder than qualifying through continental championships and also because you are competing against the strongest shooters in all the world."
Having participated in the Olympic Games in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, Mehelba is determined to make his mark in Paris.
Despite returning empty-handed from his previous Olympic appearances, his experience and dedication to the sport make him a formidable competitor.
Mehelba's golden moment came in the skeet final event held in Osijek, Croatia, from September 19 to 12 October 2022.
The championship served as a crucial qualification event for the 2024 Olympic Games, with quota places for both men's and women's individual trap and skeet competitions.
The journey to becoming an accomplished shooter began for Mehelba in 2002 when he started as an amateur at the age of 12.
Four years later, at 2016, he turned professional. His debut on the world stage came at the 2007 World Championship in Cyprus, where he finished a commendable sixth. However, he faced a setback in the following edition in Bulgaria, placing 30th.
In 2010, Mehelba began competing in the senior games alongside the youth games, showcasing his talent and determination.
He achieved notable results, placing 26th at the World Shooting Championship in Cairo in 2009 and eighth at the Youth World Championship in Germany in the same year.
A turning point in Mehelba's international career came in 2013 when Italian shooting coach Diego Gasperini started training the Egyptian star.
Since then, his performance has shown consistent improvement.
In 2014, Mehelba claimed victory at the African Shooting Championship in Cairo and secured the gold medal at the World Grand Prix in Kuwait.