Eight years after her debut at an International Canoe Federation (ICF) development camp, Samaa Ahmed has become one of the faces of sprint canoeing in Egypt.
At 26, she has already competed in two Olympic Games and has no plans to stop there.
“Without these camps and their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she told the ICF website.
“The 2017 camp was a turning point. The exposure to high-level coaching, international athletes, and structured training opened myeyes,” she added.
Trained on the Nile, in far-from-ideal conditions, Ahmed has transformed a simple summer hobby into a consuming passion.
“I fell in love with the feeling on the water, the speed, the technique… It’s become more than a sport,” she confided.
Two Olympic Games and Unwavering Determination
After competing against the world’s elite at Tokyo 2021 and then Paris 2024, the Egyptian paddler decided to take a break this season.
Not a withdrawal, but a strategic step toward a clear goal: Los Angeles 2028.
“Paris had a stronger emotional impact than Tokyo. I was more experienced, more confident,” she explained, noting that “this year is a transition phase. I am preparing for the long term to arrive stronger, more complete.”
Determined to inspire Egyptian youth, Ahmed sees each start as a message.
“I am not just racing for myself, but for every young Egyptian who dreams,” she concluded on the international federation’s website.
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