Held from 10 to 16 May in Ismailia, the two championships brought together athletes and delegations from 54 African and Mediterranean countries in a high-level competition that combined elite athletic performances with exceptional organisation and hospitality. The event was widely praised by international officials and participating delegations who hailed the championships as one of the most successful editions in recent years.
The championships were organised under the leadership of Mohamed Abdel-Maksoud, president of the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation and member of the executive board of the International Weightlifting Federation, with the attendance of several distinguished figures from the international and African weightlifting community, including Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation and President of the African Weightlifting Federation Khaled Mehalhel, alongside African federation presidents and sports officials.
Speaking during the event, Abdel-Maksoud emphasised that the championships represented an important milestone in the continued development of weightlifting across Africa, particularly amid the rapid technical and organisational progress witnessed globally in the sport.
Mehalhel also praised Egypt’s “outstanding organisation and hospitality”, expressing confidence that the championships would leave a strong and positive legacy for African weightlifting.
On the sporting side, Egypt’s national team produced remarkable results throughout the competition, collecting a large number of medals while several athletes broke African and world records.
Olympic medalist Sara Samir once again confirmed her status as one of Egypt’s greatest sporting icons after winning three gold medals in the women’s under-86kg category. Samir secured gold in the snatch with 108kg, gold in the clean and jerk with 151kg, and gold in the total with 259kg, while also setting a new African record in the clean and jerk.
Following her triumph, Samir reflected on her long journey in the sport. “One hundred African, world, and Olympic medals… and the dream continues. Years of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, and every bit of support and encouragement has been the greatest motivation to continue. The ultimate goal remains Olympic gold in Los Angeles 2028.”
Egyptian star Abdel-Rahman Younes delivered one of the most impressive performances of the championships after claiming three gold medals in the under-88kg category while breaking both world and African records.
Younes lifted 182kg in the snatch to set a new world and African record, added another African record with 210kg in the clean and jerk, and secured gold in the total with 392kg, establishing another African record in the process.
Meanwhile, Karim Kahla continued Egypt’s golden dominance after winning three gold medals in the under-94kg category. Kahla lifted 170kg in the snatch, 210kg in the clean and jerk, and achieved a total of 380kg, breaking African records in all three disciplines.
Egypt’s success extended across multiple weight classes and categories. Noureddin Mohamed secured two gold medals and one silver medal in the under-65kg division, winning gold in the snatch with 132kg and gold with a total of 288kg, while claiming silver in the clean and jerk with 156kg.
Nora Essam added three silver medals to Egypt’s tally in the women’s under-58kg category after lifting 87kg in the snatch, 108kg in the clean and jerk, and recording a total of 195kg.
The championship also saw promising star Ali Abdel-Radi secure a bronze medal while breaking three world records for the under-17 category.
But it was Abdel-Rahman Hussein who stole the show, winning three gold medals in dominant fashion and energising the home crowd.
Rahma Ahmed added another gold to the tally. In one of the most memorable moments of the championships, young lifter Abdel-Radi not only secured a bronze medal but also shattered three world records in the under-17 category, a remarkable feat that highlighted the improving technical level of Egyptian weightlifters.
Al-Sayed Ali Atteya added two bronze medals, while champion Basma Ramadan claimed another bronze, as Egypt continued its strong showing in the global event hosted locally with wide international participation.
The achievements came in addition to earlier medal successes by Egyptian lifters, including Mirna Tantawi.
Abdel-Maksoud credited the success of the championships to the collective efforts of all those involved in the event.
“It was the result of a massive team effort,” Abdel-Maksoud said. “From the organising committees and technical staff to the dedicated volunteers, everyone worked together to create a welcoming environment where every guest felt at home.”
He also expressed deep appreciation to the Egyptian leadership for its continued support of sport and athletes, stressing that the success of the championships was a national achievement shared by everyone who contributed behind the scenes.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 21 May, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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