Interview By: Al-Zahraa Rashad

A distinguished athlete, referee, and former member of the technical committee of the Egyptian Gymnastics Federation, she succeeded in great achievements at the sport and scientific levels. We will learn more about her in this interview...

First of all, we want an identification card for you?

I am Nadine Hosni Al-Saeed, a former rhythmic gymnast. I was the champion of Egypt and Africa, and an international champion of several European championships in Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine, France, Austria, Cyprus. I was also the captain of the Egyptian national team for many years, and I was the youngest player to join the national team at the age of nine years; The Russian coach of the national team at that time, believed that my level qualified me to join the team despite my young age. I was the youngest to become an international referee for rhythmic gymnastics at the age of 16. I retired at the age of 21 with more than 101 international and local medals.

What about your scientific background?

I graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, excellent grade with honors, and at the top of my class. I obtained a master’s degree in biotechnology from the American University in Cairo, and PhD in environmental epigenetics, from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. As the first Egyptian Arab woman to graduate with a major in this field, I am currently a teacher and post-doctoral researcher at New York University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

What effect did your upbringing have on your sporting and academic career?

My mother is the main engine behind my success academically and athletically, and my father did not hesitate to provide the necessary capabilities in sports, in the master’s and doctorate paths. My mother taught us time management, we had been recording tapes of our curricula since we were children to listen to them on the road and save our lessons in the car. I used to train every day for three to four hours after studying, and we were raised with determination and will that nothing is impossible. Federation members used to call me warrior because I was doing my best even though the capabilities of an athlete in Egypt are much lower than his foreign counterpart. We did not have a private physical therapist, psychologist, or fixed training place for the national teams, but I was trying to achieve my best.

 You won several championships in rhythmic gymnastics. Tell us about the most prominent championships and titles you achieved?

There are many international and African championships that are difficult for me to forget, the African Junior Championship, where I came back with 6 gold medals, 3 silver, 2 bronze, and the African Championship for adults as well.

Where I won a silver and a bronze despite my injury, and the Austrian Championship, where I won the overall individual gold and outperformed champions who qualified, and I won the Larissa Championship in Greece, which is the closest to my heart, as I returned from there with three golds and a bronze, beating the champions of the game from Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Greece. I participated in the Madeira Championship in Portugal. The Europeans were impressed by the level reached by Egyptian rhythmic gymnastics, and my pictures topped the pages of the tournament. And the World Cup in France, where I outperformed the Africans and was among the top fifty in the world at the time. As for local championships, I have always been champion of the Republic, but the first and last championships are special to me. The first time I won a medal was unexpected for everyone. I was the youngest international referee since I was 16 and a member of the technical committee of the former Gymnastics Federation.

You joined Faculty of Pharmacy and you are a gymnastics champion. How were you able to reconcile studies and sports?

My mother raised my sister and I to always be diligent. If I want to excel in something, I must do my best at it, I must organize my time. I used to attend all my lectures and my training at Olympic Center in Maadi after college, and sometimes study in the car. I cannot forget my professors, especially the dean, Dr. Muhammad Al-Azizi, who used to encourage me to train and travel to tournaments. When I graduated I was among the top of my class, and was appointed to pharmacology department, which was headed by Dr. Al-Azizi, and then Dr. Nahla Ayoub.

You got your master’s and doctoral degrees. Tell us about the most prominent results that emerged from your master’s and doctoral theses?

My master`s thesis was in biotechnology, and we were working on extracting genes from the Red Sea that tolerate high temperatures and salinity. As for the doctorate, it was in the field of epigenetics, it was different and new. The DNA in our bodies turns into RNA and then into proteins, which causes the cells to function in an appropriate manner, but 97% of the DNA and RNA do not turn into proteins, and scientists at the time believed that it had no importance, but God did not create anything in vain. I was interested in studying this RNA in muscle cells that become stiff as a result of diseases or lack of movement. I discovered that we can reverse this stiffness if we target our treatment by inhibiting this RNA, which is called MALAT.

You became the first Egyptian and Arab woman to obtain a doctorate in environmental genetics from King Abdullah University. Tell us about this experience?

I did not expect to study for my doctorate in an Arab country, and I aspired to study in Europe, but fate directed me to join the Environmental Epigenetics Program as the first student in this program with the Italian professor, my doctoral supervisor, Valerio Orlando. I had the experience of building a laboratory, dividing it, and equipping it. I learned the principles of research and management. I also joined the first program of its kind in the Middle East, which specializes in epigenetics, which is a relatively new science.

 You worked at New York University until you became chair of the Postdoctoral Council. Tell us about that…

 About two years ago, I was elected after running to represent postdoctoral researchers at the university in the Equality, Integration and Inclusion Committee.

 I am interested in overcoming obstacles without any discrimination, especially since I am an Egyptian Arab in the field of science. My interest was in overcoming the obstacles facing people of determination, especially in scientific fields through my work in this advisory committee, the university administration offered me to join the university’s postdoctoral researchers committee. The experience may seem easy, but it requires devoting part of my time to finding solutions and what can be done to improve the performance and lives of researchers at the university. I learned more about what a researcher may face in scientific fields and find appropriate solutions.

You worked in the Egyptian Women Abroad Program and were chosen from among 50 Egyptian leaders abroad. How did you benefit from that in supporting women’s issues?

The program is the first of its kind not only in Egypt but in the world. I was always keen to follow the activities of the Ministry of Immigration and the National Training Academy, and I saw the announcement of the new leadership program targeting Egyptian women abroad. I did not hesitate and applied immediately last March, and after going through the qualifying interviews, I was selected among only 50 Egyptian women abroad. We studied management, economics, politics, media, and other sciences, which strengthened my abilities and connected me to the Egyptian challenges. I enjoyed studying topics related to women and their rights through the National Council for Women.

 You are the mother of a child, Hamza. What are the most important principles that you instill in him, and are you keen on him practicing sports?

He practices sports, and arts, this teaches him many principles that will last with him throughout his life. He must do his best and be proficient in what he does. Sports are the basis for maintaining mental and physical health. I always advise him to be humble, no matter how many successes he achieves.

You established a gymnastics academy in the Emirates. Tell us about that?

I manage the rhythmic gymnastics department at one of the academy in the Emirates because I cannot stay away from my first love, rhythmic gymnastics, even while I am in Saudi Arabia, I established a rhythmic gymnastics academy within the university and it was the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia. I always make sure to teach girls to enjoy gymnastics. Because gymnastics is a short-lived sport, but it is a basis for practicing any other sport.

How do you see the Egyptian sports currently?

Sports have now developed, which was reflected in Egypt achieving many medals in the World Championships and the Olympics. As for gymnastics, it has developed a lot, especially under the presidency of Dr. Ehab Ameen of the Egyptian Gymnastics Federation, which had an impact on Egypt achieving medals in major world championships. Among the positives that were achieved in light of the existence of the current Gymnastics Federation is the work of the festival system.

In conclusion, what are your future ambitions?

In my scientific career, I aspire to establish a laboratory specialized in studying the epigenome and genetics in Egypt, to be the first of its kind. Because this will greatly facilitate methods of prevention and treatment. n sports field, I would like to establish a multi-sport academy, rhythmic gymnastics is one of its departments, which is based on scientific and medical foundations, as it combines my scientific studies with the sport that I have practiced. I have many ambitions that I have achieved, there is still a lot that I hope for.