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Islam El Shehaby

{{Short description|Egyptian judoka (born 1982)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox judoka

| image = Islam El Shehaby 2010.JPG

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = El Shehaby at the 2010 World Judo Championships

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|8|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Cairo, Egypt

| native_name = {{Lang|ar|إسلام الشهابي}}

| nationality = Egyptian

| height = 195 cm

| weight = 135 kg

| country = Egypt

| weight_class = +100 kg, Open

| rank =

| rank_ref =

| dan =

| worlds_rank = 3

| worlds_year = 2010

| worlds_weight = Men's +100 kg

| regionals_type = AF

| regionals_rank = 1

| regionals_year = 2002

| regionals_weight =

| regionals_year2 = 2004

| regionals_weight2 =

| regionals_year3 = 2008

| regionals_weight3 =

| regionals_year4 = 2009

| regionals_weight4 =

| regionals_year5 = 2009

| regionals_weight5 =

| regionals_year6 = 2010

| regionals_weight6 =

| regionals_year7 = 2011

| regionals_weight7 =

| regionals_year8 = 2011

| regionals_weight8 =

| regionals_year9 = 2013

| regionals_weight9 =

| nationals =

| olympics_rank = 13

| olympics_year = 2008

| olympics_weight = Men's +100 kg

| show-medals =

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Sport| Men's judo }}

{{Medal|Country| {{EGY}} }}

{{Medal|Competition| World Championships }}

{{Medal|B| 2010 Tokyo | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|Competition| African Games }}

{{Medal|S| 2011 Maputo | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|Competition| African Championships }}

{{Medal|G| 2002 Cairo | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2004 Tunis | Open }}

{{Medal|G| 2008 Agadir | Open }}

{{Medal|G| 2009 Mauritius | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2009 Mauritius | Open }}

{{Medal|G| 2010 Yaounde | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2011 Dakar | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2011 Dakar | Open }}

{{Medal|G| 2013 Maputo | Open }}

{{Medal|S| 2001 Tripoli | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2005 Port Elizabeth | Open }}

{{Medal|S| 2005 Port Elizabeth | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2006 Mauritius | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2008 Agadir | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2010 Yaounde | Open }}

{{Medal|S| 2012 Agadir | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2014 Port Louis | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2015 Libreville | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2001 Tripoli | Open }}

{{Medal|B| 2004 Tunis | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2013 Maputo | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|Competition| World Masters }}

{{Medal|S| 2011 Baku | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2012 Almaty | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|Competition| IJF Grand Slam }}

{{Medal|G| 2010 Moscow | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2010 Rio de Janeiro | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|Competition| IJF Grand Prix }}

{{Medal|G| 2009 Abu Dhabi | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2010 Düsseldorf | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2010 Qingdao | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2011 Baku | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2010 Abu Dhabi | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2016 Düsseldorf | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2009 Qingdao | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2011 Abu Dhabi | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2013 Samsun | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|Competition| Mediterranean Games }}

{{Medal|B| 2005 Almeria | +100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2009 Pescara | +100 kg }}

| updated = 25 July 2023

}}

Islam El Shehaby ({{Langx|ar|إسلام الشهابي}} ʾIslām ash-Shahābī; born 1 August 1982) is an Egyptian former judoka.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

El Shehaby competed at the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympics. El Shehaby was a nine-time African Champion (2002–13), and was a world bronze medalist at the 2010 World Judo Championships. El Shehaby won five World Cup medals, and competitions in Abu Dhabi 2009, Düsseldorf 2010, Moscow 2010, Qingdao 2010, and Baku 2011. El Shehaby won silver at the 2016 Düsseldorf Grand Prix in the +100 kg category.{{cite web|url=http://www.judoinside.com/judoka/10442/Islam_El_Shehaby |title=Islam El Shehaby, Judoka, JudoInside |publisher=Judoinside.com |date=1982-08-01 |access-date=2016-10-06}}

Following controversy regarding his refusal to shake the hand of Israeli judoka Or Sasson, who defeated him at the 2016 Summer Olympics, El Shehaby retired in August 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/olympics/rio-2016/teddy-riner-wins-rio-judo-gold--but-israeli-judoka-all-class-in-wake-of-egypt-handshake-snub-20160813-gqrpd4.html|title=Teddy Riner wins Rio judo gold - but Israeli judoka all class in wake of Egypt handshake snub|last=Webster|first=Andrew|date=2016-08-13|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-13}} The Disciplinary Committee of the International Olympic Committee issued a "severe reprimand" to El Shehaby for behavior violating "the rules of fair play and against the spirit of friendship embodied in the Olympic Values," and he was sent home before the Olympics closing ceremony.{{cite web|last=Grohmann |first=Karolos |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-rio-judo-egypt-israel-idUSKCN10Q1WC |title=Egyptian judoka sent home over handshake refusal with Israeli |publisher=Reuters |date=2016-08-15 |access-date=2016-10-06}}{{cite web|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/olympics-ethics-committee-warns-egyptian-judoka-shehabi |title=Olympics ethics committee warns Egyptian judoka Shehabi |publisher=Egypt Independent |date=2016-08-15 |access-date=2016-10-06}}

Personal life

Islam El Shehaby was born in Cairo, Egypt, and is a conservative Salafi Muslim.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/12/egypt-judo-handshake-israel_n_11479924.html|title=Egyptian Judo Athlete Refuses Israeli's Handshake|website=The Huffington Post|date=12 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-13}}{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/olympics/judo/story/_/id/17287176/islam-el-shehaby-egypt-refuses-shake-sasson-hand-judo-match-rio-olympics|title=Egyptian judoka refuses handshake with Israeli|date=12 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-13}} He is {{convert|1.95|m|ftin|abbr=on}} tall, and weighs {{convert|135|kg|lb|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/el/islam-el-shehaby-1.html |title=Islam El-Shehaby Bio, Stats, and Results |website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=2016-08-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203035440/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/el/islam-el-shehaby-1.html |archive-date=2016-12-03 }}

2016 Olympics controversy

El Shehaby competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he was thrown twice by and lost to Israeli judoka Or Sasson, who later won a bronze medal in this competition.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rio-olympics-2016-egypt-judo-fighter-islam-el-shehaby-refuses-to-shake-hands-israeli-or-sasson/|title=Egyptian judo fighter refuses to shake Israeli opponent's hand|website=CBS News |date=12 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-15}} After the match, El Shehaby refused to bow or shake hands with his opponent, after the Israeli had bowed to him. As a result of his major breach of judo etiquette, the Egyptian was loudly booed and jeered by the near-capacity crowd.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rio-olympics-2016-egypt-judo-fighter-islam-el-shehaby-refuses-to-shake-hands-israeli-or-sasson/|title=Egyptian judo fighter refuses to shake Israeli opponent's hand|website=CBS News |date=12 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-13}}

After his defeat, El Shehaby lay flat on his back for a moment before standing to take his place before Sasson, in front of the referee. When Sasson extended his hand to the Egyptian, El Shehaby backed away, shaking his head and shunning Sasson. The referee then called El Shehaby back to the mat and demanded that he bow, at which point El Shehaby gave a quick nod of his head.

El Shehaby's conduct was widely condemned as unsportsmanlike.{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2657386-islam-el-shehaby-refuses-handshake-after-1st-round-judo-loss-to-or-sasson|title=Islam El Shehaby Refuses Handshake After 1st-Round Judo Loss|last=Chiari|first=Mike|website=Bleacher Report |access-date=2016-08-13}} American coach Jimmy Pedro said "That is extremely rare in judo. It is especially disrespectful considering it was a clean throw and a fair match. It was completely dishonourable and totally unsportsmanlike on the part of the Egyptian." BBC judo commentator Mark Doran said. "That is not what the Olympics are about."{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2016/08/12/defeated-egyptian-judoka-refuses-to-shake-israeli-opponents-hand/|title=Defeated Egyptian judoka refuses to shake Israeli opponent's hand|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=12 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-13 |last1=Henderson |first1=Barney }}

El Shehaby's refusal to shake hands had precedent, in actions by another member of Egypt's team. Egyptian judoka Ramadan Darwish had refused to shake hands with his Israeli opponent Arik Zeevi, another Israeli Olympic bronze medalist, in both the 2011 Judo Grand Slam and the 2012 Judo Grand Prix.

Prior to competing, El Shehaby had been urged to forfeit the match by Egyptian Islamists and nationalists, as Iranian Javad Mahjoub had done years earlier in forfeiting a match against Or Sasson.{{cite web|url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/08/11/fans-pressure-egyptian-judoka-not-to-shame-islam-by-contending-against-israeli-at-rio-olympics/|title=Fans Pressure Egyptian Judoka Not to 'Shame Islam' by Contending Against Israeli at Rio Olympics|website=Algemeiner.com|access-date=2016-08-13}} The Egyptian Olympic Committee stated that El Shehaby was alerted before the match to abide by all the rules and have sporting spirit. The committee also stated that what he did was a personal action.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/egyptian-judoka-refuses-shake-israeli-opponents-hand |title=Egyptian judoka refuses to shake Israeli opponent's hand |publisher=NBC Olympics |access-date=2016-10-06}}

Both the International Olympic Committee and the International Judo Federation stated that they would review the incident, to see if action should be taken.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/egyptian-judoka-quits-sport-after-refusing-to-shake-israel-rivals-hand/|title=Egyptian judoka quits sport after refusing to shake Israel rival's hand|website=The Times of Israel |access-date=2016-08-13}}{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/ioc-to-probe-egyptian-judokas-refusal-to-shake-israelis-hand/|title=IOC to probe Egyptian judoka's refusal to shake Israeli's hand|website=The Times of Israel |access-date=2016-08-13}} It is unclear what potential punishment El Shehaby or Egyptian judo as a whole could face, but his hopes of medaling were dashed regardless due to Sasson's decisive performance in the quarterfinals.{{Update inline|date=July 2021}}

Following his defeat and the related controversy, El Shehaby announced he was retiring from judo.

The Ethics Committee and the Disciplinary Committee of the International Olympic Committee issued a "severe reprimand" to El Shehaby for behavior violating "the rules of fair play and against the spirit of friendship embodied in the Olympic Values", and he was reportedly sent home before the Olympics closing ceremony. IOC Disciplinary Committee also requested that the Egyptian Olympic Committee in the future make certain that all Egyptian athletes are properly educated as to the Olympic Values before they participate in the Olympic Games. Egypt's Judo Federation however denied that he had been punished and claimed he had traveled back home with his team as scheduled since it was customary for athletes to go back once their competitions were finished.{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/16/sport/israel-egypt-judo-handshake/|title=Olympics: Was Egyptian Judoka punished for refusing to shake Israeli's hand?|author=Joshua Berlinger|date=17 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-17}}

Achievements

class=wikitable

!Year !!Tournament !!Place !!Weight class

rowspan=1| 2016rowspan=1| 2016 Summer Olympics

|bgcolor="FAIL" align="center" | DSQ

Heavyweight (+100 kg)
rowspan=2| 2008rowspan=2| African Judo Championships

| style="background:silver; text-align:center;"| 2nd

Heavyweight (+100 kg)
style="background:gold; text-align:center;"| 1stOpen class
rowspan=2| 2006rowspan=2| African Judo Championships

| style="background:silver; text-align:center;"| 2nd

Heavyweight (+100 kg)
style="text-align:center;"| 5thOpen class
rowspan=3| 2005rowspan=2| African Judo Championships

| style="background:silver; text-align:center;"| 2nd

Heavyweight (+100 kg)
style="background:silver; text-align:center;"| 2ndOpen class
|Mediterranean Games

| style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"| 3rd

Heavyweight (+100 kg)
rowspan=2| 2004rowspan=2| African Judo Championships

| style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"| 3rd

Heavyweight (+100 kg)
style="background:gold; text-align:center;"| 1stOpen class
2002African Judo Championships

| style="background:gold; text-align:center;"| 1st

Heavyweight (+100 kg)
rowspan=2| 2001rowspan=2| African Judo Championships

| style="background:silver; text-align:center;"| 2nd

Heavyweight (+100 kg)
style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"| 3rdOpen class

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shehaby, Islam El}}

Category:1982 births

Category:Egypt in the Arab–Israeli conflict

Category:Competitors at the 2005 Mediterranean Games

Category:Competitors at the 2009 Mediterranean Games

Category:Egyptian male judoka

Category:Judoka at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Category:Judoka at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Category:Judoka at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Category:Judoka at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Category:Living people

Category:Mediterranean Games bronze medalists for Egypt

Category:Olympic Games controversies

Category:Olympic judoka for Egypt

Category:Martial artists from Cairo

Category:Egyptian Salafis

Category:Mediterranean Games medalists in judo

Category:African Games medalists in judo

Category:Competitors at the 2011 All-Africa Games

Category:African Games silver medalists for Egypt

Category:21st-century Egyptian sportsmen