Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly

{{Short description|Egyptian discus thrower (born 1984)}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

|image =

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|2|9}}

|birth_place =

|height ={{height|m=1.99}}

|weight ={{convert|125|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

|country = {{EGY}}

|sport =Athletics

|event =Discus

|updated = 12 August 2012

}}

Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly (born 9 February 1984 in Cairo) is an Egyptian discus thrower.

He originally played handball, while his siblings were on the Egyptian national swimming team.{{cite web|title=IAAF: Athlete profile for Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly|url=http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/egypt/omar-ahmed-el-ghazaly-180142|publisher=IAAF|access-date=2019-10-09}}

In 1999 he was recruited by former African shot put champion Nagui Asaad, who was setting up a throwing school that also included hammer thrower Mohsen El Anany and shot putter Yasser Fathy. After having a try with the different implements, he settled for the discus and rapidly made his debut in the national team.[http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/focusOnAthletes/newsId=36230/index.html IAAF on Omar El Ghazaly] In 2000, aged 16, he was selected for the Egyptian team for the World Junior Championships, where he finished in 17th. That year he also won the Arab Championships with a throw of 53.07 m. At the 2002 World Junior Championships, a poor result of 10th was due to a shoulder injury. In 2003, his final year as a junior, he set a new junior world record of 65.88.

His personal best throw is 66.58 metres, achieved in June 2007 in Helsingborg. This is the current national record.[http://www.athlerecords.net/Records/AFRIQUE/PLEINAIR/EGY.htm Egyptian athletics records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224342/http://www.athlerecords.net/Records/AFRIQUE/PLEINAIR/EGY.htm |date=2007-09-26}} In 2007, he also became the first Egyptian athlete to reach the final of an event at the Athletics World Championships.

His 2008 season did not go as well due to a series of injuries.

In June 2009, El Ghazaly gave a strong showing at a meeting in Sollentuna, Sweden, registering a number of throws over 65 metres and winning with 66.34 m. This was an African season's best throw and highlighted him as a possible finalist for the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.Julin, Lennart (2009-06-26). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/el-ghazaly-throws-6634m-sudanese-surpremacy-o El Ghazaly throws 66.34m; Sudanese surpremacy on the track in Sollentuna]. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-10-09. He again reached the final, but could only achieve 9th place.

His 2010 season was again marred by injury.