Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly Explained

Birth Date:9 February 1984
Weight:125kg (276lb)
Sport:Athletics
Event:Discus
Updated:12 August 2012

Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly (born 9 February 1984 in Cairo) is an Egyptian discus thrower.

He originally played handball, while his siblings were on the Egyptian national swimming team.[1]

In 1999 he was recruited by former African shot put champion Nagui Asaad, who was setting up a throwing school that also included hammer thrower Mohsen El Anany and shot putter Yasser Fathy. After having a try with the different implements, he settled for the discus and rapidly made his debut in the national team.[2] In 2000, aged 16, he was selected for the Egyptian team for the World Junior Championships, where he finished in 17th.[1] That year he also won the Arab Championships with a throw of 53.07 m.[1] At the 2002 World Junior Championships, a poor result of 10th was due to a shoulder injury.[1] In 2003, his final year as a junior, he set a new junior world record of 65.88.[1]

His personal best throw is 66.58 metres, achieved in June 2007 in Helsingborg. This is the current national record.[3] In 2007, he also became the first Egyptian athlete to reach the final of an event at the Athletics World Championships.[1]

His 2008 season did not go as well due to a series of injuries.[1]

In June 2009, El Ghazaly gave a strong showing at a meeting in Sollentuna, Sweden, registering a number of throws over 65 metres and winning with 66.34 m. This was an African season's best throw and highlighted him as a possible finalist for the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.[4] He again reached the final, but could only achieve 9th place.

His 2010 season was again marred by injury.[1]

Achievements

Representing
2000World Junior ChampionshipsSantiago, Chile17th (q)Discus50.43 m
2001World Youth ChampionshipsDebrecen, Hungary3rdDiscus throw (1.5 kg)61.06 m
African Junior ChampionshipsRéduit, Mauritiusbgcolor=silver2ndDiscus throw (1.75 kg)49.79 m
2002World Junior ChampionshipsKingston, Jamaica10thDiscus throw (1.75 kg)58.20 m
African ChampionshipsRadès, Tunisia3rdDiscus throw48.17 m
2003African Junior ChampionshipsGaroua, Cameroonbgcolor=gold1stDiscus throw (1.75 kg)61.87 m
UniversiadeDaegu, South Korea9thDiscus throw55.15 m
All-Africa GamesAbuja, Nigeriabgcolor=gold1stDiscus throw63.61 m
Afro-Asian GamesHyderabad, India3rdDiscus throw59.77 m
2004Olympic GamesAthens, Greece33rd (q)Discus throw55.53 m
Pan Arab GamesAlgiers, Algeriabgcolor=gold1stDiscus throw61.06 m
2005Islamic Solidarity GamesMecca, Saudi Arabiabgcolor=gold1stDiscus throw59.89 m
Universiadeİzmir, Turkeybgcolor=silver2ndDiscus throw62.28 m
2006African ChampionshipsBambous, Mauritiusbgcolor=gold1stDiscus throw61.11 m
World CupAthens, Greece4thDiscus throw61.50 m
2007All-Africa GamesAlgiers, Algeriabgcolor=gold1stDiscus throw62.28 m
UniversiadeBangkok, Thailandbgcolor=silver2ndDiscus throw60.89 m
World ChampionshipsOsaka, Japan6thDiscus throw64.58 m
2008Olympic GamesBeijing, China23rd (q)Discus throw60.24 m
2009Berlin, Germany9thDiscus throw62.83 m
Beirut, Lebanonbgcolor=gold1stDiscus throw61.01 m
2010Nairobi, Kenyabgcolor=gold1stDiscus throw59.30 m

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IAAF: Athlete profile for Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly. IAAF. 2019-10-09.
  2. http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/focusOnAthletes/newsId=36230/index.html IAAF on Omar El Ghazaly
  3. http://www.athlerecords.net/Records/AFRIQUE/PLEINAIR/EGY.htm Egyptian athletics records
  4. Julin, Lennart (2009-06-26). El Ghazaly throws 66.34m; Sudanese surpremacy on the track in Sollentuna. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-10-09.