Egypt has taken an important step in the development of Canoe Sprint after successfully hosting a coaching course in Cairo.
The programme brought together coaches from across the country for an intensive educational experience focused on advancing coaching knowledge and athlete development.
A total of 21 Egyptian coaches participated in the course, including seven women and 14 men, representing eight cities nationwide.
Hosted by the International Canoe Federation and funded through Olympic Solidarity, the course was facilitated by experienced Canadian coach Zakarias Mahmoudi, who also led the programme in India last month.
The course created a collaborative learning environment where participants exchanged experiences, strengthened their technical understanding, and continued building the foundations for the future growth of Canoe Sprint in Egypt.
The level two programme built upon foundational coaching principles and explored more advanced aspects of Canoe Sprint coaching, including stroke rate analysis, distance per stroke, training programme design, athlete assessment, and the physiology of canoe sprint performance.
Olympian, former Egyptian National Team Head Coach and current Egyptian Rowing Club (ERC) Club Head Coach, Mostafa Mansour highlighted the importance of the course for the future of the sport in the country.
"The ICF Level 2 course held in Egypt was an invaluable experience that went beyond standard training,
“It provided the advanced strategic tools necessary to professionalize our approach to athlete development,” said Mr. Mansour.
“I truly believe that the knowledge shared here will act as a catalyst, elevating Egyptian coaching and taking canoe-kayak sport to a whole different level.
“A huge thank you to the ICF for investing in the future of our athletes and our national programme.”
Coach Omar Hassan also praised the educational value of the programme, and the collaborative learning environment through the course.
“The course was very informative,” said Mr. Hassan.
“We discussed a lot about the stroke rate and distance per stroke, and how to create a training programme, as well as the physiology of Canoe Sprint.
“[Coach] Zak [Mahmoudi] was great with us. Some participants were taking Level 2 while others were completing Level 1, and he took the time to answer everyone’s questions. He focused strongly on technique and on assessing the athlete as a whole. It was a very educational and rewarding experience.”
Coach Sama said: “The course was incredibly valuable, and coach Zak [Mahmoudi] paid close attention to every detail. I benefited greatly from the videos, materials, and guidance provided throughout the programme.”
ICF Vice President Dr. Cecilia Farias said: “Alongside the established world-class Talent Identification Programmes (TIPs) with significant African paddler participation, the ICF Development team has been delivering coaching courses across the continent, expanding access to top-level technical knowledge and expertise for a wider community.
“The success of this course in Cairo reflects Egypt’s strong commitment to developing Canoe Sprint through coach education,
“We are particularly encouraged by the participation of coaches from different regions, including the strong involvement of female coaches.
“This kind of inclusive development will play an important role in the continued growth of Canoe Sprint.
“The passion and commitment shown throughout this programme gives us confidence in the future of Canoe Sprint in Africa. We look forward to seeing the impact of this training inspire the next generation of athletes and coaches.”
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