An Egyptian pushing the limits in women’s gymnastics

Sherine Ahmed El-Zeiny is an Egyptian champion gymnast born on 23 February 1991 in the Netherlands. Her mother Eman Roshdy was a tennis champion and her father Ahmed El-Zeiny was a squash champion.

A trainer there asked her parents to take her to the club DOS Alphen aan den Rijn, where she received training for juniors, after the trainer noticed she had a talent.

She started participating in championships at the age of eight and in 2002, joined the Dutch National team. In the same year, and moved to Zoetermeer to train with Coach Frank Louter in the club Pro Patria Zoetermeer.

Daily News Egypt spoke to El-Zeiny to learn more details about her career.
Why did you leave the Dutch National Team and join the Egyptian one?

It was a serious decision, because at the time, once I joined the Egyptian National Team, I had no chance to return back to the Dutch one. With the Dutch National team, my chance to qualify individually for the Olympics in Beijing 2008 was very slim. So in 2007, my Russian coach Boris Orlov advised me to play for Egypt in order to qualify individually for the Olympics at the time.

Her achievements
2004 Playing for Dutch Team in European Championship- 5th place
2007 African Games in Algeria Won 1st place
2007 World Championship in Stuttgart, Germany-1st Egyptian gymnast qualified for Olympic Games
2007 The Arab Games 1st place
2008 Beijing Olympics-Participated as 1st Egyptian gymnast to enter Olympic Games
2009 African Championship - 1st place
2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara , Italy -5th place
2009 World Championship in London - 42nd place all around
2012 Participated in Olympic Games in London- injured, carried out of competition during 2nd event

photos courtesy of Sherine El-Zein