Fares El-Bakh

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Fares Ibrahim

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Fares Ibrahim Sayed Hassouna El-Bakh

| nickname = Meso Hassouna{{cite web |url=https://www.iwf.net/biography/?id=1495832 |title=Athlete Biography: ELBAKH, Fares Ibrahim E. H. |work=IWF.net |accessdate=September 24, 2019}}

| nationality = Qatari

| coach = Ibrahim El-Bakh

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|6|4}}

| birth_place = Egypt

| height = 1.78 m{{cite web |title=Fares Ibrahim E. H. Elbakh |url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/fares-ibrahim-e-h-elbakh |website=Rio2016.com |access-date=30 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826130927/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/fares-ibrahim-e-h-elbakh |archive-date=26 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}

| weight = 95.95 kg

| country = Qatar

| place of birth = Egypt

| sport = Weightlifting

| event = –96 kg

| club =

| pb = {{unbulleted list|Snatch: 178 kg (2019)|Clean and jerk: 228 kg (2019)|Total: 404 kg (2019)}}

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{QAT}}}}

}}

Fares Ibrahim Saed Hassouna El-Bakh ({{langx|ar|فارس ابراهيم سعد حسونة الباخ}}, born 4 June 1998), commonly known as Meso Hassouna, is a Qatari weightlifter of Egyptian origin. He is an Olympic Champion, World Champion and two-time Junior World Champion competing in the 85 kg, and 94 kg categories until 2018 and 96 kg and 102 kg starting in 2018 after the International Weightlifting Federation reorganized the categories.{{Cite web |url=http://ashgabat2018.com/img/startlistv2/M96A.pdf |title=PDF listing of 2018 Group A world championship entrants in 96 kg |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210015809/http://ashgabat2018.com/img/startlistv2/M96A.pdf |archive-date=10 December 2018 |url-status=live}}

He holds the junior world record in the clean & jerk (225 kg) and total (397 kg) in the 96 kg division. His father, Ibrahim Hassouna, represented Egypt at three consecutive Olympics from 1984 to 1992.

Career

=Olympics=

He initially placed eighth at the men's 85 kg event at the 2016 Summer Olympics,{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Fares Ibrahim |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ib/fares-ibrahim-1.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630172432/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ib/fares-ibrahim-1.html |archivedate=2019-06-30}}{{cite web |url=http://www.qatar-tribune.com/Latest-News/ArtMID/423/ArticleID/4666/Rio-2016-Qatari-Weightlifter-Faris-Ibrahim-Ranks-8th-in-Mens-85Kg-Weightlifting |title=Rio 2016: Qatari Weightlifter Faris Ibrahim Ranks 8th in Men's 85Kg Weightlifting |work=Qatar-Tribune |accessdate=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210015828/http://www.qatar-tribune.com/Latest-News/ArtMID/423/ArticleID/4666/Rio-2016-Qatari-Weightlifter-Faris-Ibrahim-Ranks-8th-in-Mens-85Kg-Weightlifting |archive-date=10 December 2018 |url-status=live}} but was updated to seventh{{cite web |title=Men's 85kg – Standings |url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/weightlifting-standings-wl-mens-85kg |website=Rio 2016 |access-date=30 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922201749/https://www.rio2016.com/en/weightlifting-standings-wl-mens-85kg |archive-date=22 September 2016 |url-status=dead |quote=ELBAKH Fares Ibrahim E. H.}} after the original bronze medalist Gabriel Sîncrăian failed a drug test in October of that year.{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/17783940/romanian-weightlifter-gabriel-sincraian-lose-bronze-medal-failed-rio-olympic-drug-test |title=Weightlifter Gabriel Sincraian fails Rio Olympic drug test |publisher=ESPN |date=13 October 2016 |accessdate=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330014808/http://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/17783940/romanian-weightlifter-gabriel-sincraian-lose-bronze-medal-failed-rio-olympic-drug-test |archive-date=30 March 2019 |url-status=live}}

At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, he competed in the 96 kg category. After the snatch portion of the competition, he was in fourth place with a 177 kg lift, although the difference between first and fifth place was just 2 kg. In the clean & jerk section, he attempted his first lift after every competitor had finished their lifts. He successfully lifted 217 kg, clinching the gold medal, he followed himself with an Olympic record lift of 225 kg, which gave him a total of 402 kg (also an Olympic record).{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/weightlifting-qatars-elhakh-wins-gold-mens-96-kg-event-2021-07-31/ |title=Weightlifting-Qatar's Elhakh wins gold in men's 96 kg event |work=Reuters |date=31 July 2021 |accessdate=July 31, 2021}} He attempted, but failed a world record lift of 232 kg, his total of 402 kg was 15 kg greater than the silver and bronze medalists. With his Olympic gold, he became the first Qatari Olympic Champion, regardless of sport.{{cite web |title=Fares El-Bakh makes history for Qatar and sets new Olympic record with gold in 96kg men's weightlifting final |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/fares-el-bakh-makes-history-for-qatar-sets-new-olympic-record-to-take-gold-in-96 |work=Tokyo 2020 |access-date=31 July 2021 |archive-date=31 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731153742/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/fares-el-bakh-makes-history-for-qatar-sets-new-olympic-record-to-take-gold-in-96 |url-status=dead}}

In August 2024, he competed in the men's 102 kg event at the 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France.{{Cite web |title=Weightlifting Results Book |url=https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/WLF/OG2024_WLF_B99_WLF-------------------------------.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811193408/https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/WLF/OG2024_WLF_B99_WLF-------------------------------.pdf |archive-date=11 August 2024 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=2024 Summer Olympics}} He failed three attempts to lift 178 kg in the Snatch and he did not compete in the Clean & Jerk.

=World Championships=

In 2017 he moved up to the 94 kg category and competed at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships, where he won a silver medal in the clean & jerk and originally placed fourth overall,{{cite web |url=https://www.iwf.net/2017/12/04/world-records-fall-moradi/ |title=MORADI makes World Records fall |author=IWF.net |date=4 December 2017 |accessdate=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209213108/https://www.iwf.net/2017/12/04/world-records-fall-moradi/ |archive-date=9 December 2018 |url-status=live}} but was upgraded to a bronze medal in the total after the original silver medalist Aurimas Didžbalis was disqualified after failing a drug test.{{cite web |url=https://www.iwf.net/2018/01/23/public-disclosures-8/ |title=IWF Public Disclosure |work=IWF.net |date=23 January 2018 |accessdate=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924184325/https://www.iwf.net/2018/01/23/public-disclosures-8/ |archive-date=24 September 2019 |url-status=live}}

The next year he competed in the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships, where he won a bronze medal in the clean & jerk portion in the new 96 kg category.{{cite web |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/News/234001.html |title=Iranians bag eight world weightlifting medals |work=Iran Daily |accessdate=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224221944/http://www.iran-daily.com/News/234001.html |archive-date=24 December 2018 |url-status=live}} During the competition he set a new junior world record in the clean and jerk.{{cite web |url=https://www.iwf.net/2018/11/07/iranian-gold-mens-96kg/ |title=Iranian Gold in the men's 96kg |author=IWF.net |date=7 November 2018 |accessdate=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214608/https://www.iwf.net/2018/11/07/iranian-gold-mens-96kg/ |archive-date=19 November 2018 |url-status=live}}

=Other competitions=

He competed at the 2016 Junior World Weightlifting Championships and won a bronze medal in the total in the clean & jerk and total in the 85 kg category. The following year he competed again at the Junior World Weightlifting Championships this time he got a gold medal in the 85 kg category.{{cite web |url=https://www.iwf.net/2017/06/20/qatari-gold-elbakh-fares-ibrahim-e-h-junior-world-champion/ |title=Qatari Gold – ELBAKH Fares Ibrahim E. H. Junior World Champion |author=IWF.net |date=20 June 2017 |accessdate=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210015800/https://www.iwf.net/2017/06/20/qatari-gold-elbakh-fares-ibrahim-e-h-junior-world-champion/ |archive-date=10 December 2018 |url-status=live}}

In 2018 he defended his title as Junior World Champion, he won a gold medal at the Junior World Weightlifting Championships in the 94 kg category. He also won the Asian Junior Championships in the 94 kg division,{{cite web |title=2018 Asian Junior Championships |url=https://www.iwf.net/results/results-by-events/?event=421 |website=iwf.net |accessdate=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901003748/https://www.iwf.net/results/results-by-events/?event=421 |archive-date=1 September 2018 |url-status=live}} later in 2018 he competed at the 2018 Asian Games and won the silver medal in the 94 kg category.{{cite web |url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/603938/Fares-Lifts-silver-brings-Qatar-joy |title=Fares Lifts silver, brings Qatar joy |work=Gulf Times |date=26 August 2018 |accessdate=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209213232/https://www.gulf-times.com/story/603938/Fares-Lifts-silver-brings-Qatar-joy |archive-date=9 December 2018 |url-status=live}} At the 5th International Qatar Cup{{Cite web |url=https://www.iwf.net/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2018/12/Start_book_DOHA.pdf |title=PDF listing of 5th Qatar Cup 2018 |access-date=21 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222082059/https://www.iwf.net/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2018/12/Start_book_DOHA.pdf |archive-date=22 December 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/21/12/2018/5th-International-Qatar-Cup-weightlifting-championship-begins |title=5th International Qatar Cup weightlifting championship begins |author=The Peninsula Qatar |date=21 December 2018 |accessdate=21 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221130347/https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/21/12/2018/5th-International-Qatar-Cup-weightlifting-championship-begins |archive-date=21 December 2018 |url-status=live}} he swept gold in the 96 kg class,{{cite web |url=http://xn--igbhee6kbhwv.xn--wgbl6a/en/Media/News/Pages/Hassouna-wins-best--weightlifter-title-in-Qatar-Cup-.aspx |title=Hassouna wins best weightlifter title in Qatar Cup |author=الأولمبية.قطر |accessdate=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224220503/http://xn--igbhee6kbhwv.xn--wgbl6a/en/Media/News/Pages/Hassouna-wins-best--weightlifter-title-in-Qatar-Cup-.aspx |archive-date=24 December 2018 |url-status=live}} where he set a junior world records in the clean & jerk with 225 kg and total with 397 kg.{{cite web |url=https://www.iwf.net/new_bw/results_by_events/?event=444 |title=5th International Qatar Cup |author=IWF.net |accessdate=22 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223030257/https://www.iwf.net/new_bw/results_by_events/?event=444 |archive-date=23 December 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/617211/Fares-tops-Qatar-Cup-weightlifting |title=Fares tops Qatar Cup weightlifting |work=Gulf Times |date=22 December 2018 |accessdate=23 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223130449/https://www.gulf-times.com/story/617211/Fares-tops-Qatar-Cup-weightlifting |archive-date=23 December 2018 |url-status=live}}

Major results

width=60 \| 1 ! width=60 \| 2 ! width=60 \| 3 ! width=45 \| Rank ! width=60 \| 1 ! width=60 \| 2 ! width=60 \| 3 ! width=45 \| Rank
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan=2 width=40 \| Year ! rowspan=2 width=250 \| Venue ! rowspan=2 width=60 \| Weight ! colspan=4 \| Snatch (kg) ! colspan=4 \| Clean & Jerk (kg) ! rowspan=2 width=60 \| Total ! rowspan=2 width=40 \| Rank
colspan=13\|Olympic Games
2016	align=left\| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	85 kg	151	155	158	{{n/a}}	197	203	~~208~~	{{n/a}}	361	7
2021	align=left \| Tokyo, Japan	96 kg	173	~~177~~	177	{{n/a}}	217	225 OR	~~232~~	{{n/a}}	402 OR	{{gold1}}
2024	align=left \| Paris, France	102 kg	~~178~~	~~178~~	~~178~~	{{n/a}}	—	—	—	{{n/a}}	{{abbr\|DNF\|Did not finish}}	—
colspan=13\|World Championships
2017	align=left\| Anaheim, United States	94 kg	163	~~167~~	~~167~~	10	210	215	220	{{silver2}}	383	{{bronze3}}
2018	align=left\| Ashgabat, Turkmenistan	96 kg	171	~~174~~	~~174~~	9	~~217~~	217	~~222~~	{{bronze3}}	388	5
2019	align=left\| Pattaya, Thailand	96 kg	174	178	~~181~~	4	217	224	~~230~~	{{silver2}}	402	{{silver2}}
2021	align=left\| Tashkent, Uzbekistan	96 kg	172	~~175~~	~~175~~	6	217	222	~~229~~	{{gold1}}	394	{{silver2}}
2022	align=left\| Bogotá, Colombia	102 kg	170	174	~~177~~	5	217	—	—	{{silver2}}	391	{{gold1}}
2023	align=left\| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	102 kg	170	~~174~~	~~176~~	15	218	~~223~~	~~223~~	{{silver2}}	388	7
2024	align=left\| Manama, Bahrain	102 kg	171	174	~~177~~	7	~~222~~	222	225	{{silver2}}	399	{{silver2}}
colspan=13\|Asian Games
2018	align=left\| Jakarta, Indonesia	94 kg	166	~~170~~	~~170~~	{{n/a}}	215	~~222~~	~~222~~	{{n/a}}	381	{{silver2}}
colspan=13\|Asian Championships
2016	align=left\| Tashkent, Uzbekistan	85 kg	145	150	~~155~~	8	191	196	~~200~~	{{bronze3}}	346	6
2019	align=left\| Ningbo, China	96 kg	170	~~174~~	174	{{silver2}}	~~221~~	~~221~~	~~222~~	—	—	—
2020	align=left\| Tashkent, Uzbekistan	102 kg	~~174~~	~~174~~	174	{{silver2}}	222	~~229~~	~~232~~	{{silver2}}	396	{{silver2}}
2022	align=left\| Manama, Bahrain	102 kg	171	~~175~~	~~176~~	{{silver2}}	215	—	—	{{gold1}}	386	{{gold1}}
colspan=13\|World Junior Championships
2016	align=left\| Tbilisi, Georgia	85 kg	150	~~155~~	~~155~~	8	~~196~~	196	~~201~~	{{bronze3}}	346	{{bronze3}}
2017	align=left\| Tokyo, Japan	85 kg	156	160	~~163~~	{{silver2}}	~~193~~	193	~~200~~	{{gold1}}	353	{{gold1}}
2018	align=left \| Tashkent, Uzbekistan	94 kg	163	167	170	{{silver2}}	205	215	—	{{gold1}}	385	{{gold1}}
colspan=13\|IWF Grand Prix
2023	align=left\| Doha, Qatar	102 kg	172	176	~~179~~	{{bronze3}}	221	224	~~232~~	{{gold1}}	400	{{gold1}}
colspan=13\|Qatar Cup
2018	align=left\| Doha, Qatar	96 kg	~~168~~	~~171~~	172	{{gold1}}	213	219	225	{{gold1}}	397	{{gold1}}
2019	align=left\| Doha, Qatar	96 kg	~~173~~	~~173~~	176	{{silver2}}	213	223	228	{{gold1}}	404	{{gold1}}