Bodybuilding is one of the games that men have dominated for many years.
This is especially prominent in Arab societies, and there are rarely women practicing this sport: not even showing interest.
Maram Saeed was am exception to the status quo.
Saeed obtained the green arbitration card for the Fitness Challenge and the accreditation of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness.
Saeed’s journey – who started working in the field of media – began in this game a few years ago.
There she met her current husband, a bodybuilder, and began to learn more about the game and was intrigued by the lives of its practitioners, and the difficulties, and challenges.
She launched several pages on social media and initiatives.
This gained interest from so many people to know more about the origins and story of bodybuilding game.
They also began to tease out and correct some misconceptions about it.
Saeed told Al-Masry Al-Youm: “Many people, and I was one of them who thought that this game was just about people exposing their bodies”.
She realized later on that this game has a rich history and every muscle that appeared in their bodies is a sign of extremely hard work and dedication.”
After Saeed raised awareness about this game, and learned its origins and basics, she joined the Egyptian Federation for Bodybuilding and Physical Fitness.
Soon after, the federation recognized her as a registered arbitrator in the federation’s records.
She continued: “I was a media advisor to the Egyptian Federation of Bodybuilding, and then I traveled with them most of the world championships, and then I obtained a bodybuilding arbitration permit in Egypt”.
“This was in the game (Fitness Challenge), and this was included in bodybuilding, after I passed the arbitration course, and I became the first Egyptian woman because we do not have referees or female bodybuilders.”
Then Saeed traveled with the Egyptian delegation participating in the World Bodybuilding, Classic and Physique Championships for men and women, which were held in Santa Susanna, Spain, from November 2 to 8, 2022.
There, she also passed the international arbitration course, and the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness awarded her the green arbitration card for the game (Fitness Challenge), the latest game that was added to the activities of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness, to become the first Egyptian and Arab woman to obtain this international badge.
And she continued: “I was very happy and felt that I was carrying a message that Arab women could succeed in areas that were monopolized by men, and I encourage that more girls and women remain in the sport of bodybuilding, whether coaches or players.”
There, she also passed the international arbitration course, and the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness awarded her the green arbitration card for the game (Fitness Challenge).
The latest game that was added to the activities of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness, to become the first Egyptian and Arab woman to obtain this international badge.
“I was very happy and felt that I was carrying a message that Arab women can succeed in areas that were monopolized by men, and I encourage that more girls and women remain in the sport of bodybuilding, whether coaches or players,” Saeed said.
