(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
Libya sends team of seven athletes to compete in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio that started on Friday despite ongoing unrest.
The Libyan team will be competing in the following sports: archery, judo, rowing, marathon, taekwondo, and swimming.
37 year old Ali Elghrari will be representing Libya in archery. This will be the first time for Libya to be competing in archery at the Olympics. Elghrari got his position on the team after Tripartite Commission sent an invitation to Libya to bring a male archer to the Rio games.
Elkawisah is first on the left.
Mohamed Elkawisah, a 29 year old judoka will be competing in the men’s 60 kilogram judo at the olympics. Elkawisah is Libya’s highest ranked judoka according to the International Judo Federation.
Alhussein Gambour a 26 year old rower will be the first Libyan to compete in the men’s single sculls rowing competition after Libya was invited to send a rower by the Tripartite Commission.
24 year old Mohamed Hrezi will be competing the the men’s marathon. Hrezi who will be starting an Masters of Business Administration in Michigan in the fall is Libya’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony.
Yousef Shriha is also 24 years old and will represent Libya in the 58 kilogram mens taekwondo olympics tournament. Shriha made the team after coming in second at the men’s flyweight category in the 2016 African Qualification Tournament that took place in Agadir, Morocco. The last time Libya competed in taekwondo was in the 2004 Olympics.
Ahmed Attellesey, the 21 year old athlete, will compete for Libya in the men’s 50 meter freestyle swimming competition.
Daniah Hagul, the only female athlete representing Libya in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Hagul will be competing in the 100 meters backstroke swimming competition. Both swimmer made the team after Libya was invited to send one female and one male swimmer by FINA, Fédération internationale de natation.
Libya first participated in the Olympics in 1968 in Mexico City sending one athlete who competed in the 400 meter hurdles. Many are hopeful that the 2016 Olympics will the olympic games where Libya wins its first olympic metal.