Egyptian woman flag bearer at Youth Olympics
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When Jihan El Midany leads the Egyptian delegation into Saturday’s opening ceremony of the inaugural Youth Olympics, it will be a historic moment for her country.
The 18-year-old pentathlete will become the first woman from Egypt to serve as a flag bearer at an Olympic event. And if she wins a medal as expected in the competition that includes swimming, shooting, fencing and running, she would be the first woman from her country to do so at an Olympic event.
The Youth Olympics, which runs through Aug. 26, features about 3,600 competitors aged 14 to 18 from 204 countries competing in the same 26 sports on the current Summer Olympics program.
El Midany almost abandoned the pentathlon this year after the sports governing body required athletes to wear swimsuits that exposed the neck, shoulder and legs. She was “disappointed” by the ruling, but got the blessing of her family and sporting authorities to compete in Singapore. She admits feeling “uncomfortable” in the new suit, but knows the swimming event doesn’t last long.
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