Meet Hoda Elshorbagy
My name is Hoda Elshorbagy. I am from a village in North Egypt. I have a bachelor degree in history. I am the first and only woman wheelchair racer in Egypt. When I was eight months old I received a polio vaccination. The doctor made a mistake. The dose was expired, so instead of protecting me from polio, the vaccine gave me polio, leaving me completely paralyzed. After undergoing 13 surgeries, some of my ability was restored. Thankfully, I'm able to stand and walk with the assistance of crutches.
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My drive to become an athlete started in college. In 2011, I placed first in The National Competition for weight lifting and in 2014 I placed first in the National Competition for Discus throwing. I also accompanied the National Team on a trip to Tunisia for an International Tournament. In 2016 I watched Wheelchair Racing during the Paralympics on television for the first time. I had no prior knowledge of this sport. Immediately I recognized my true passion would be in racing. I started researching YouTube videos and learning from champions of this sport.
For me the challenges in wheelchair racing go beyond simply entering a sport where no woman in Egypt has ever before participated. Since there aren't any coaches for Wheelchair Racing in Egypt, where we speak Arabic, the sport has to be learned using English. I overcame my language barrier by enrolling in several English conversation courses to assist
me in improving my English. Lack of necessary equipment drove me to fashion athletic equipment not normally sold in my country. In 2016 someone constructed a very basic wheelchair for me to start training. Through research, my friend helped me make racing gloves so I was able to follow my passion and start my journey in racing. While training on the road in Egypt, people thought of me as a beggar, not knowing that I am an athlete. At first, this severely impacted me emotionally, but then I took this as an opportunity. Instead of getting upset over how people could think this way about a young girl in a pink racing chair, I decided to spread awareness about what I was doing. Now those same people encourage me when they see me training on the road.
I'm very fortunate to have the full support of my family who live in a rural area. In order to pursue racing, I moved to the city and away from my family, becoming independent. I supported myself by working as a cashier in a grocery store and training at the gym and on the track.
Through research I found out about Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) and after applying for a grant, I was not only approved, but CAF introduced me to Coach Carlos Moleda. He asked for my measurements and for the first time, I was being fitted for a chair. I asked for his guidance and he surprised me the next day when he inquired about my age and whether I would be able to travel to the USA to train with him. Everything has changed drastically since I met him in 2019. He was a light when I needed it most. He gave me hope, encouragement and practical help of all kinds. When everyone else told me my dream couldn't come true, he had faith in me! When I returned to Egypt since there weren't any coaches for Wheelchair Racing I searched online for a wheelchair racing coach and mentor who could create a program for me remotely. I contacted Coach Marty Morse, former Head Coach of the University of Illinois. He volunteered coaching me online when I was in Egypt. I have come a long way thanks to his Coaching and mentoring. In 2018, for the first time, I participated in a National Competition for wheelchair racing. I competed against men, and as the only woman wheelchair racer in Egypt, I won 2nd place in the 1500 meter and 3rd place in the 800 meter at our Egyptian National Wheelchair Racing Competition. In 2019 and 2020, I won 1st place in both of these events. I also
competed in the Egyptian National Competition in January 2021 and in May 2021. After competing in both the 200 meter and the 400 meter, I won 1st and 2nd place respectively in both competitions. In 2022, I participated in all events and got first place and set new personal records.
In 2023, I took the biggest step and I traveled to the USA alone to pursue my dream. I arrived in Urbana, IL in January. Coach Adam Bleakney agreed to train me for six months (my visitor visa allows me to stay in the USA for a maximum of 6 months). I am currently training with his team of world class champions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This is a great opportunity for me, as it is my first time to be a part of a great team of champions. The team has been amazing and always supports me physically and emotionally. I feel I'm so close to realizing my dream as I'm training here at the University of Illinois. I really want to stay here training and studying until I achieve my ultimate goals! I love physical fitness. I want to be a person who can make the sport of wheelchair racing a reality for those individuals with physical disabilities. I dream of one day representing Egypt in the Paralympic Games as the first Egyptian woman in wheelchair racing. I want to win all Abbott World Marathon Major. In doing so, I would be the first Egyptian to have completed a full marathon as a wheelchair athlete. I want to be a coach in the Paralympic sport of wheelchair racing to help people like myself n my home country and all over the world. I am intending to study kinesiology at the University of Illinois while I train. Getting into a college for physical education is Not possible in Egypt. One must pass a physical test beyond the capability as a disabled person. The applicant automatically rejected. I want to take the first step and make the change. It is only here that I can train in my sport and be educated so I can serve other disabled persons in Egypt.
Once I receive my training and education in the US I want to make history in Egypt. I want to bring more awareness to this sport to the Middle East. I want to be the person to inspire confidence and encourage women who are both differently able and able-bodied. My dream is to teach them to love sports and in this way change their lives for the best as I am doing. I want to alter how people perceive those with disabilities. I want to be recognized as an athlete who goes beyond just being physically fit. I want to be the one to bring about change by excelling and being the best at wheelchair racing. Currently this sport is not well-known in my country and there is limited help for disabled persons to excel in it. With Allah's assistance I want to demonstrate to my country and to the world how a person with a disability can accomplish what seems impossible. I understand I have big dreams, and it will take a lot to achieve them, but I'm truly dedicated to making this a reality, as this is my true passion.
Nothing is impossible!
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