Against All Odds: Palestinian Athletes Who Dominated the Olympics
From acing an overhead slam on the tennis court to executing the perfect weightlifting snatch, the Olympics brings out the best in our favorite athletes. Every country gets to participate and show off its top athletes.
Knowing that the highly anticipated global sporting event is just around the corner, we thought of looking at Palestinian athletes who have dominated the sport throughout the years.
Majed Abu Maraheel
It is quite something when someone becomes a trailblazer for an entire nation, and that is the case for Majed Abu Maraheel. In 1996, he became the first Palestinian athlete to compete in the Olympics and be a flag bearer.
Taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, Maraheel competed as a long-distance runner in the men’s 10,000-meter race but ultimately got eliminated after getting placed 21st in his qualification group. The world went silent when he passed away at the age of 61 because of a lack of medical treatment amidst Palestine’s ongoing genocide.
Mary Al-Atrash
Showcasing persistence and determination, Palestinian swimmer Mary Al-Atrash kept on swimming and training even when facing many obstacles. One of her biggest challenges was not having access to an Olympic-sized pool across all Palestinian territories. She had to succumb to training in a 25-meter pool.
She participated in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her entire Olympic journey inspired many and showcased the challenges faced by athletes in zones of conflict and war.
Mohammed Hamada
Maraheel wasn’t the only athlete accomplishing first times for Palestine. Mohammed Hamada is the first-ever weightlifter from Palestine to compete at the Olympics. He competed at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. He ended up finishing 13th in the 96kg category.
The weightlifting star is now gearing up for the upcoming summer Olympics. He is now in Qatar, where the local federation is providing him with all the training conditions until the Olympic celebrations.
Yazan Al-Bawwab
Known as a Palestinian Olympic swimmer who competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Yazan Al-Bawwab. Beyond competing in the Olympics, he is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Young Leader and used his platform to bring to attention the high drowning rates in parts of Palestine.
Mayada Al-Sayad
Setting an example for Palestinian athletes, Mayada Al-Sayad is a long-distance runner who not only represented Palestine at the World Championships but also participated in the 2016 Olympics.
Born in Berlin to a German mother and Palestinian father, she gained international recognition for competing in marathons and cross country.
Seeing how Palestinians have been able to take the torch and compete throughout the years in the Olympics is yet another way for the nation to bring its voice and identity to the forefront.
