Egyptian weightlifter Ali el Sharkawi trains in Tanta, Gharbia, Egypt February 2, 2023. Sharkawi, who won the bronze medal twice in national championships, is one of many Egyptian athletes who complain about the struggle to find sponsorship as he has been working as a garbage collector to fund his training. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Nationally ranked bodybuilder Ali el-Sharkawy trains in the evenings, but only after the 29-year-old has spent the morning collecting rubbish to support himself through his sporting career.
Although he has won accolades including two bronze medals at national championships, like many other Egyptian athletes practising individual sports, he has been unable to secure funding or external support.
Instead, he uses a horse-drawn cart to collect waste and recycling across Gharbia, his hometown in Egypt's Nile delta, making up to 200 Egyptian pounds ($6.59) per day.
Egyptian weightlifter Ali el Sharkawi trains in Tanta, Gharbia, Egypt February 2, 2023. Sharkawi, who won the bronze medal twice in national championships, is one of many Egyptian athletes who complain about the struggle to find sponsorship as he has been working as a garbage collector to fund his training. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
"I wish there were better options," Sharkawy told Reuters.
Sharkawy says he has not found state support for his bodybuilding career and that most funding is used for higher profile team sports like soccer.
Despite the limitations to his training regime, he takes inspiration from Mamdouh Elssbiay, known as "Big Ramy", a celebrated Egyptian bodybuilder who won the Mr Olympia title in both 2020 and 2021.
Egyptian weightlifter Ali el Sharkawi trains in Tanta, Gharbia, Egypt February 2, 2023. Sharkawi, who won the bronze medal twice in national championships, is one of many Egyptian athletes who complain about the struggle to find sponsorship as he has been working as a garbage collector to fund his training. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Sharkawy's coach, Mostafa el-Tamimi, said Sharkawy found his own success soon after starting training.
"He is seeking to participate in an international championship, but a bodybuilding career needs support and funding to provide nutrition," he said.
($1 = 30.3299 Egyptian pounds)
Egyptian weightlifter Ali el Sharkawi shakes hands with a friend during training in Tanta, Gharbia, Egypt February 2, 2023. Sharkawi, who won the bronze medal twice in national championships, is one of many Egyptian athletes who complain about the struggle to find sponsorship as he has been working as a garbage collector to fund his training. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
(Reporting by Sayed Sheasha and Mariam Rizk; Writing by Nafisa Eltahir; Editing by Ben Dangerfield)
Egyptian weightlifter Ali el Sharkawi trains in Tanta, Gharbia, Egypt February 2, 2023. Sharkawi, who won the bronze medal twice in national championships, is one of many Egyptian athletes who complain about the struggle to find sponsorship as he has been working as a garbage collector to fund his training. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
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