LONDON — It was a big day for Egypt at the London 2012 Paralympic powerlifting arena Sunday. Egyptian female athlete Fatma Omar bettered her world record in the women's -56kg competition lifting 143kg. She clinched her forth gold medal in her fourth consecutive Paralympic participation. Shaaban Ibrahim later handed Egypt another medal, a bronze, in the men's -67.50kg. “I came here for the gold and keep my world record. Actually I broke it again,” Omar said. Omar is proud to have kept the world record for four years. She set the last record — 141kg — at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. “I am so happy and thrilled to win the gold medal. I came here to make Egyptians proud. I am glad to have lifted Egypt's name high today. Egyptians had faith in me and I didn't let them down,” she said. Omar faced tough competition from Nigerian Lucy Ejike, who claimed the silver with a lift of 135kg. Turkey's Ozlem Beceriki won the bronze with a lift of 118kg. Omar spent a whole year preparing for the Games following her maternity leave away from training. Before every lift, Omar would look up and shout Ya Rab (oh God). Omar said she was blessed by God's support. “I also owe my coaches, who have been very supportive. They had faith in me and I am glad that I have met their expectations,” she acknowledged. Preparing for the Games was not easy. It was an individual effort for her and she said she wished there was more support to sports in her country as it is in other countries where athletes usually spend four years preparing for the Paralympics. “I will keep training until the next one in Rio 2016,” she said. She expressed the hope of seeing more women take up powerlifting, pointing out that tough sports have started attracting Egyptian women athletes. “Egyptian women are known to be physically strong and there is growing interest in challenging sports,” she said.
