By: Al-Zahraa Rashad

Dr. Heba Yahya, a dentist and orthodontist, and a lecturer at the Faculty of Dentistry, Suez University, has not only excelled academically, but has also had a distinguished career in sports. We learn about her scientific and humanitarian journey in the following report...

Dr. Heba began practicing sports at the age of 6 with the encouragement and support of her family. Practicing sports helped her develop self-confidence and physical fitness. She practiced swimming, tennis, and modern pentathlon, but she loved swimming because of her excellence in it. She succeeded in joining the Egyptian national team and represented Egypt in Arab, African, and international championships. She continued practicing sports while a student at the Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, and won championships representing the university until she graduated with very good honors and became a doctor, in addition to her athletic achievements. Regarding her athletic career and its key milestones, she says, "I started swimming at Al Shams Club, then joined Al Ahly Club and the national swimming team in 2000. I competed for Al Ahly for ten years, winning several medals in the Arab and African Games. After graduating from college, I began swimming in the Masters discipline, winning the Republic Championship and the Egyptian Cup. I then participated in the World Finswimming Championships in Sharm El Sheikh in April 2016, winning three medals: gold, silver, and bronze, and breaking the Egyptian, Arab, and African records. I believe that swimming is one of the sports that most appealed to me because it strengthens the entire body, unlike some sports like football, which only strengthen the player`s legs."

She also focused on developing her athletic abilities in the fields of coaching and sports refereeing. When she began refereeing, she started seeing athletes from a different perspective and striving to solve their problems. She explained that while being an athlete is only responsible for herself, refereeing allows her to have an impact on the lives of others, which brings her joy. On the academic front, she chose dentistry because she wanted to learn about orthodontics, and she earned her master`s degree. She earned her doctorate and became a lecturer at Suez University. Her goal since childhood was to become a dentist, believing that a beautiful smile can boost self-confidence. On a personal and family level, she is married and a mother of two daughters, whom she encourages to participate in sports. They practice gymnastics and swimming, and one of her greatest achievements was continuing to exercise as a mother, setting a positive example for her children and motivating them to persevere in their athletic pursuits.

Dr. Heba believes that Egyptian swimmers are exceptionally talented, and that Egypt boasts many sporting talents, such as Dr. Rania Elwani and Farida Osman, who have achieved international and world championships and attained distinguished global rankings. She emphasizes that media coverage of individual sports has improved significantly with the rise of social media and satellite channels, allowing the public to follow athletes, witness their achievements, and appreciate their efforts.

Regarding her message, she says, "I am proud to be speaking with the Voice of Cairo University newspaper; Cairo University is a prestigious university, and I studied there during my Master`s and PhD stages. My professors were very supportive and proud of my athletic achievements alongside my academic studies, and some of them are still in contact with me to this day.