Omar Ahmed El-Ghazaly: "The Egyptian Who Loves Estonia"

Former World Junior Record Holder has been training well and is focusing on the World Championships which will be held in 2011.
Omar´s off-season has been quite good, he started out with some back problems which doesn´t bother him anymore. In the middle of November he went to Pretoria(South-Africa) where he had a trainingcamp without the Team so basically he practiced alone. Afterwards he went back home to Cairo and in the beginning of January had 3-week trainingcamp with his coach Vésteinn Hafsteinsson and the Team.

Omar´s next trainingcamp will be in San Diego, California.
In Summer he is planning to stay between Sweden and Estonia. Omar says that he loves Tallinn! (Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia)

Omar says that so far everything is good. He has no injuries and technique is getting better. All that he needs is staying healthy... then the discus can fly- hopefully soon beyond 70m.

We asked Omar what does he think about Estonia and why does he like Tallinn so much.

"I think it´s a small country with the most beautiful girls and the most beautiful Downtown. There are the nicest people around when you earn their trust and respect! Estonia also has a great tradition of track and field!"

"I like everything in Tallinn. I´ve had good training sessions there, I had the best coffee ever in Reval Park Hotel, I had the best sushi in Zebra! But of course the best thing is that I have the best friends there. I tell you what I like most about Estonian people. They seem to be quiet and shy, but when you take your time with them and they start to trust you then they open themselves for you so much and become so friendly. I always say that Estonians are like the COCONUT, HARD FROM OUTSIDE BUT VERY FLUENT AND SWEET FROM THE INSIDE!"

Here´s the interesting video about Omar. It´s called "Omar´s Day"

Flash pleier ei ole installeeritud.

Today Omar has his 26th birthday! Team75plus.com and Throwing Fans all over the World wish him good luck for upcoming season and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Some facts about Omar El-Ghazaly

• Omar has born, raised and lived in Cairo for all his life.
• Omar started his professional career in 2007 when he graduated university.
• Omar started throwing discus at the age of 10. He was always winning in his age group.
• He met his coach Vésteinn Hafsteinsson at 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He saw Vésteinn on throwing field and went to spoke with him. Then Omar asked Vésteinn to be his coach.
• Omar´s weaknesses as a discus thrower are the weak legs and bad finishing.
• His strongesses are great sprint, smoothness and good mental part. Omar is better in big meets than in trainings.

Omar El Ghazaly
Date of birth	9.02.1984
Birth place	Cairo, Egypt
Event	Discus Throw
Club	Gezira Sports Club
Height	199cm
Weight	125kg
Arm-span	214cm
Personal Best´s
2.0 kg	66.58m Helsingborg 28.06.2007
1.75 kg	65.88m Al Qahirah 07.11.2003
1.50 kg	62.50m 01.03.2001
Progression
2000	55.35m
2001	62.50m 1.5kg
2002	53.65m; 58.81m 1.75kg
2003	59.77m; 65.88m 1.75kg WJR
2004	61.46m
2005	64.36m
2006	65.33m
2007	66.58m
2008	63.08m
2009	66.34m
Lifting
Bench Press	230kg x2
Incline Bench	180kg x3
Power Clean	170kg
Power Snatch	120kg
Deadlift	200kg
Back Squat	220kg x3
Front Squats	180kg
Career Highlights
2000	7th African Championships (50.68)
2000	1st Arab Junior Championships (53.07)
2001	3rd World Youth Championships (61.06)
2001	2nd African Junior Championships (49.79)
2002	10th World Junior Championships (58.20)
2002	3rd African Championships (48.17)
2002	1st Arab Junior Championships (57.37)
2003	9th World University Games (55.15)
2003	1st African Junior Championships (61.87)
2006	1st 15th African Championships in Athletics (61.11)
2007	6th IAAF World Championships in Athletics (64.58)
2009	9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics (62.83)

Thank you Omar for your help! Team75plus.com also thanks James Preston(´an up and coming junior thrower from England) for his help.