Defying prejudice, Egyptian woman racks up global bodybuilding awards
FILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, trains at a gym in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. Picture taken November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian female bodybuilder Dina Abdel Maksoud has had to overcome prejudice as well as fellow competitors to become a champion.
In a country where bodybuilding is widely viewed as the province of men, the 21-year-old has spent eight years pumping iron and defying social norms.
She spends on average two hours at the gym each day, but double when she trains for a competition. In October she won golds at two events in Ukraine.
FILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, trains at a gym in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
"If you train for bodybuilding you will achieve your dreams. If a woman trains hard, she can be stronger than the strongest of men. So, do not let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do," she said.
(Reporting by Sherif Fahmy and Amr Abdallah Dalsh; Writing by Seham Eloraby; Editing by Yousef Saba and John Stonestreet)
FILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, trains at a gym in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, eats at her home in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, gestures during her training at a gym in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, is seen during training at a gym in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, shows a Tournament Certificate at her home in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, exercises at her home in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Egyptian bodybuilder champion Dina Abdel-Maksoud, 21, trains at a gym in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, is seen with her mother at home in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, trains at a gym in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Egyptian bodybuilder champion Dina Abdel-Maksoud, 21, trains at a gym in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, exercises at her home in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, trains at a gym in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshFILE PHOTO: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, applies makeup before training, at her home in Port Said city, northeast of Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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