Egyptian weightlifter Nora Essam Helmy revealed the details of her fainting incident during the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, confirming that she is now in good condition.
Nora Essam Helmy Speaks After the Incident
Nora Essam Helmy said in statements to Cairo 24 that she is feeling well after what happened during Monday’s competition.
The Egyptian weightlifter explained that she fainted because the bar placed pressure on her veins, which caused her airway to close and resulted in her losing consciousness during the event.
Nora Essam added that she had hoped to deliver a strong performance for herself and Egypt, but stressed that what happened was beyond her control and that she was feeling better the following day.
Nora Essam’s Participation with Egypt
The weightlifter expressed her disappointment at being unable to deliver the performance she had hoped for, while emphasizing that her recovery and well-being were the priority after the incident.
Nora Essam is part of Egypt’s weightlifting delegation competing at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games in Italy.
Egypt’s Weightlifting Achievements
Egyptian weightlifting has already produced notable results at the Mediterranean Games 2026, with Egyptian athlete Nour El-Din Zaki winning two medals, including one gold and one silver.
The Egyptian weightlifting team continues its participation as part of the national delegation competing for more medals across the tournament.
Egypt’s Weightlifting Delegation in Taranto
Egypt’s weightlifting delegation traveled from Cairo International Airport to Italy to compete at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, which run until September 3 and feature 3,803 athletes from 26 countries.
The delegation includes mission head Mohamed Ehsan, along with coaches Alaa Hassan and Mohamed Hosny.
The list of Egyptian athletes includes Karim Kahla, Abdelrahman Younes, Abdelrahman Hussein, Nour El-Din Zaki, Mahmoud Hosny, Sara Samir, Mirna Tantawy, Nora Essam and Rofida Fathy.
Egypt at the Mediterranean Games 2026
Egypt is seeking to continue collecting medals across the different sports in which its athletes are competing at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games.
The Egyptian weightlifting team remains an important part of the country’s campaign, with competition continuing through September 3.
What happened to Nora Essam Helmy?
The Egyptian weightlifter fainted during her competition at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games.
What caused Nora Essam to faint?
She explained that pressure from the bar on her veins caused her airway to close, leading to the fainting incident.
How is Nora Essam’s condition?
She confirmed that she was feeling well and had improved the following day.
Who won medals for Egypt in weightlifting?
Nour El-Din Zaki won two medals, including a gold and a silver, in the weightlifting competition.
