Mohammed Hamada

Palestinian weightlifter (born 2002)

Mohammed Hamada

Personal information

Birth name| Mohammed Khamis Haidar Hamada
Nationality| Palestinian
Born|  (2002-03-14) 14 March 2002 (age 22)
Gaza, Palestine
Weight| 101.35 kg (223.4 lb)
Sport
Country| Palestine
Sport| Weightlifting
Event(s)| 96 kg, 102 kg

Medal record

Men's weightlifting
Representing  Palestine
| Event  | 1st | 2nd | 3rd

|
|
|

Junior World Championships | 1  | 0  | 1
Total  | 1  | 0  | 1
Junior World Championships
| 2022 Heraklion | –102 kg
| 2022 Heraklion | –102 kg

Mohammed Khamis Haidar Hamada (Arabic: محمد خميس حيدر حمادة; born 14 March 2002) is a Palestinian weightlifter from Gaza. He was the first Palestinian to compete in the sport at the Olympics.[1][2]

## Career

[edit]

Hamada participated in the men's 96-kilogram event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, making him the first-ever weightlifter from Palestine to compete at the Olympics. He finished 13th.[3]

Hamada left Gaza several weeks before the Olympics to avoid traveling issues, having secured his place after participating in six international qualifying contests since 2019. His brother Hussam is the Palestinian national weightlifting team coach.[4][5]

He was the flag bearer of Palestine's Olympic National Team during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

In 2022, Hamada won gold and bronze in the IWF Weightlifting Junior World Championships held in Heraklion, Greece.[6]

In 2024, Hamada injured his knee and lost around 20 kg (44 lb) carrying water during the ongoing Israel–Hamas war and Gaza genocide. He thus failed to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[7][8] A documentary film chronicles his journey during the Gaza genocide,[9] which included having to eat animal feed to survive.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Palestine: Olympic team plan to fly Palestinian flag high at Tokyo Games". 22 July 2021.
2. ^ "Weightlifting HAMADA Mohammed K H - Tokyo 2020 Olympics". olympics.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
3. ^ "Qatar welcomes Palestinian star Mohammed Hamada until the Paris Games". International Weightlifting Federation. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
4. ^ "First Palestinian weightlifter at Olympics braced to make history". Reuters. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
5. ^ "Meet the first Palestinian weightlifter to compete in the Olympics". Haaretz. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
6. ^ Al Gherbawi, Hadeel (21 May 2022). "Palestinian wins world weightlifting championship in Greece - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
7. ^ Stepansky, Joseph; Uras, Umut (23 July 2024). "Israel war on Gaza updates: Israel forces Palestinians into 20% of Gaza: UN". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
8. ^ Ibrahim, Niza (23 July 2024). "Heavy toll on Palestinian athletes in Gaza: Six are set to feature at the games in Paris". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 27 July 2024 - via YouTube.
9. ^ Al Jazeera English (11 August 2024). How I escaped Gaza’s war to fight for my Olympic dream: The Gaza Man. Retrieved 11 August 2024 - via YouTube.

## External links

[edit]

* Mohammed Hamada at the International Weightlifting Federation
* Mohammed Hamada at Olympics.com
* Mohammed Hamada at Olympedia

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