Episodes

  • Egypt's Maha Amer on historic achievements and overcoming toxic environments
    Jun 24 2024
    In the last episode of the Abtal podcast series, host Reem Abulleil sits down with Egyptian diver Maha Amer as she prepares for her second Olympic Games this summer in Paris. Amer shares her inspiring journey, from making history as the first Egyptian to win a medal in diving at the World Championships to balancing her academic pursuits with her athletic career. At just 25 years old, Amer holds two undergraduate degrees in economics and public health, and has completed two master's degrees in international business and biomedical sciences. She opens up about the challenges she has faced throughout her diving career, including the toxic environment often created by coaches and the psychological and mental toll it took on her. Amer offers valuable insights into how she overcame these struggles, finding support and comfort in her college teammates, and using her education to help others. She also discusses the positive aspects of diving, her hopes and dreams both in and out of the pool, and her mindset heading into Paris after missing out on Olympic qualification for Tokyo 2020. After this episode, the Abtal podcast comes to an end. All 11 episodes have provided unique insights into the lives of some of the Arab region's top athletes. You can listen to all of the episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, or watch the full interviews on The National's YouTube channel.
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    56 mins
  • Morocco’s Ines Laklalech on her meteoric rise in professional golf
    Jun 17 2024
    In this episode of the Abtal podcast, host Reem Abulleil is joined by Moroccan golfer Ines Laklalech, who is on the brink of securing her place at her first Olympic Games this summer. Laklalech has made history as the first Moroccan, North African or Arab woman to win a tournament on the Ladies European Tour, a remarkable achievement she accomplished at the Lacoste Ladies Open in Deauville during her rookie season in 2022. Following this victory, Laklalech secured her card for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), marking another milestone as the first Moroccan, North African or Arab golfer to do so. In this conversation, she shares her Olympic dreams, the story of how she started playing golf and the reasons behind her three-year hiatus from the sport, during which she completed her undergraduate degree. Laklalech also talks about what brought her back to the golf course, her rapid ascent from amateur to professional title winner, and the emotional highs and lows she experiences during nearly every tournament. You can listen to all previous episodes of Abtal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, or watch the full interviews on The National's YouTube channel.
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    51 mins
  • Lebanese trap shooter Ray Bassil on what it takes to make it to four Olympic Games
    Jun 10 2024

    The Abtal podcast is back with a fresh batch of exciting episodes, featuring three incredible Arab athletes who are on their way to the Olympics.

    In this episode, host Reem Abulleil is joined by Lebanese trap shooter Ray Bassil, who is gearing up for her fourth consecutive Olympic Games this summer.

    Bassil, a reigning Asian champion and former world number one, has had an illustrious 20-year career in shooting, boasting numerous World Cup and Asian Championship victories.

    She was the flag-bearer for her country at the Tokyo 2020 Games and is currently on a quest to become her country's first Olympic medallist since 1980 and the first Lebanese woman to reach the Olympic podium.

    In this wide-ranging conversation, 35-year-old Bassil delves into the complexities of shooting, her journey over the past two decades, the sources of her motivation, and the significance of bearing the aspirations of a nation.

    You can listen to all previous episodes of Abtal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, or watch the full interviews on The National's YouTube channel.

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    38 mins
  • Moroccan surfer Ramzi Boukhiam on making the most of his second chance
    Apr 16 2024

    In the eighth episode of the Abtal podcast, host Reem Abulleil is joined by Moroccan surfer Ramzi Boukhiam, who is getting ready to compete in his second Olympics this summer.

    Boukhiam is the first Moroccan or Arab surfer to qualify for the Championship Tour, which is the highest level of competition in the sport.

    The 30-year-old from Agadir recently clinched a silver medal at the ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico to secure his Olympic spot and solidify his place among the best surfers on the planet.

    In this revealing conversation, Boukhiam delves deep into the highs and lows of his career, his early days in the sport, his move from Morocco to the South of France after he lost his father at the age of 12, the tough transition from juniors to the pros, and how he’s hoping to make the most of his time on the Championship Tour this season.

    You can listen to the full conversations on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, or watch the full interviews on The National News YouTube channel.

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    55 mins
  • Safiya Al Sayegh on blazing a trail for UAE women in professional cycling
    Apr 8 2024

    In the seventh episode of the Abtal podcast, host Reem Abulleil is joined by UAE’s first female professional cyclist, Safiya Al Sayegh.

    A multiple-time national champion and a time trial bronze medallist at the Under 23 Asian Championships, Al Sayegh has made rapid strides in the sport within a very short period of time.

    In 2022, she signed for Team UAE ADQ to become the first Arab woman to join a WorldTour outfit. She made her WorldTour competitive debut last year, with an impressive top-35 finish at the Tour of Chongming Island in Shanghai.

    Al Sayegh has represented the UAE in two World Championships and having punched her ticket to Paris this summer, has become the first Emirati woman cyclist to qualify for the Olympics.

    She discussed the challenges of juggling her cycling career with her studies, what it’s been like taking the leap towards competing among the sport’s elite, her perspective on chasing goals versus dreams and getting out of a dark hole that almost stopped her from accepting the contract with Team UAE ADQ.

    Al Sayegh also talked about her pride in representing her country and religion in the world of professional cycling, and tells us what it’s like donning the hijab and competing among a predominantly European peloton.

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    1 hr
  • Egypt's Marwan El Kamash on doing whatever it takes to fulfil his Olympic dream
    Apr 1 2024

    In the sixth episode of the Abtal podcast, host Reem Abulleil is joined by Egyptian distance swimmer Marwan El Kamash, who is getting ready to compete in his third Olympic Games this summer.

    Since he moved to the United States more than 12 years ago to study and swim at the University of South Carolina, El Kamash has gone to extreme lengths to not only sustain, but consistently develop his career as a swimmer.

    During the conversation, he talks about how he went from being a young teen in Alexandria who hated swimming, to becoming one of the best distance swimmers in the world with an immense passion for his sport that has taken him across the globe.

    He also talks about his dream to make history for his country by becoming the first Egyptian to secure a place in an Olympic swimming final.

    You can listen to the full conversations on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, or watch the full interviews on The National News YouTube channel.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Power couple Ziad El Sissy and Nouran Gohar on shared dreams and championship mindset
    Mar 25 2024

    Abtal podcast series is back after a short break with a new line-up of inspiring Arab athletes and compelling conversations.

    In the fifth episode, host Reem Abulleil is joined by two athletes this time, Egypt’s first medallist at a Fencing World Championship Ziad El Sissy and his wife, squash superstar Nouran Gohar.

    A bronze medallist at the World Championships and a Mediterranean Games champion, El Sissy has carved a path for himself in sabre fencing that has taken him from Alexandria to Detroit, Dallas to New York, and to his current residence in Connecticut, where he shares a home with Gohar.

    During the conversation, world No 3 El Sissy dives deep into his fencing journey and explains why he almost walked away from the sport after the Tokyo Olympics. He discusses the mental challenges of his sport and why he’s been able to make a leap up the rankings to establish himself among the fencing world’s elite.

    Gohar, his wife, later joins the conversation. The former squash world No 1 and current No 3 shares insights into her life with El Sissy and how the couple make it work despite being two top athletes competing in different sports.

    They let us know what they’ve learnt from one another, how they continue to inspire each other, and talk about a shared dream of both winning medals at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where squash will make its long-awaited debut at the Games.

    You can listen to the full conversations on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, or watch the full interviews on The National News YouTube channel.

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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Swimming star Farida Osman on overcoming mental challenges to chase her fourth Olympics
    Feb 19 2024

    In the fourth episode of the Abtal podcast, host Reem Abulleil sits down with Egyptian swimming star Farida Osman.

    A three-time World Championship medallist and African record holder, Osman has overcome many challenges both in and out of the pool to blaze a trail for Arab swimmers across the region.

    Osman exploded on to the scene as a 16-year-old when she became Egypt’s first junior world swimming champion in 2011. She has since become one of the best sprinters in the world, shattered numerous records and participated in three Olympic Games.

    Ahead of her fourth appearance at the Games, we speak to Osman about what it’s like being the face of Egyptian swimming for so long. Osman shares her experiences navigating the psychological rollercoaster of being a swimmer, from the highs of victory to the lows of self-doubt and burnout.

    Osman also talks about her heartbreaking Tokyo Olympics, the brutal backlash that followed, and how she rebounded from that disappointment to get back in contender form. This episode was recorded before Osman made more history at the World Championships in Doha last week, reaching a seventh consecutive 50m butterfly final and winning her third career medal at Worlds.

    Abtal will take a short break before returning in March with a fresh line-up of inspiring Arab athletes and compelling conversations. You can listen to the full conversations on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, or watch the full interviews on The National News YouTube channel.

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    54 mins