Written by: Shorouk Ashraf

People always strive to achieve their goals in life in the best possible way and to reap the rewards of their efforts as much as possible. However, hard work alone is not enough to achieve success; personal traits such as courage, patience, and psychological support from family and friends are also essential.

This is exactly what happened with Mahmoud Mohamed Hassan, who won second place in the weightlifting competition at Cairo University in the 85 kg category. In our interview with him, we got to know more about his journey to this achievement, which marks his first milestone in the sport.

Mahmoud was born in 2006 and grew up in Qanater El-Khairiya, Qalyubia Governorate. He is currently a second-year student at the Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University, enrolled in the Digital Media Program.

Mahmoud’s love for weightlifting began when he first started going to the gym and engaging in regular exercise. He shared, "I used to love going to the gym and lifting weights. My friend Mohamed Said was a weightlifter and was participating in a competition, so I went to support him. By chance, the coach noticed that I was athletic and could lift a good amount of weight. He suggested that I compete, and with my friend’s encouragement, I decided to take the step and participate."

Mahmoud also told us about his daily routine, which helps him balance his studies and training. He explained, "I wake up in the morning, pray, and go to university. Then I return home, have lunch, rest for a while, and later head to training. Finally, I try to complete any assignments required for my studies."

After achieving this milestone, Mahmoud now feels even more motivated to compete and excel in weightlifting. "I now have a bigger challenge—to work harder on myself and participate in more championships."

Sports have a significant impact on a person’s character and self-confidence, and Mahmoud confirmed this in our conversation: "Sports have changed me noticeably. They made me more energetic and have had a positive influence on my outlook on life. In addition, they have boosted my self-confidence, as my physique and overall appearance have improved significantly."

In his free time, Mahmoud enjoys listening to podcasts and reading books. He mentioned that he is currently reading "Min Wahi Al-Qalam" by Mustafa Sadiq Al-Rafi`i.

At the end of our interview, Mahmoud emphasized his strong belief in the importance of sports in a person’s life. He also offered advice to young people who want to start exercising: "Don’t tell yourself that it’s too late. On the contrary, as long as you’ve made the decision, you still have enough time to start. Put in the physical effort, play any sport you love, and you will realize how much your life, mindset, and health improve. Trust yourself, trust in God, and take the step—even if it’s a slow one, at least you are trying to move forward."