Mohamed Wahoud, a Syrian bodybuilder and Jordan’s champion, was born in Khalidiya, one of the neighborhoods that revolted against the regime in Homs city. Like many of his peers, the then 12-year old sought refuge in Jordan with his family, carrying a bag of clothes, painful memories of war and the dream of one day returning to his homeland and leaving behind childhood friends who were facing either death or exile.
When the Syrian revolution broke out in spring of 2011, he had just finished primary school. Four of his maternal uncles died were revolutionaries who died in the war: Radwan Nahili, known as “Homs Sniper” or “Azrael”, Marwan Nahili, the commander of the Military Council for the western countryside of Homs, his two uncles Wasim and Mohamed, and his cousin, Subhi Nahili, who won the national and Asian Athletics championship.
Despite losing so many of his family and the devastation and massacres in his homeland, Mohamed, who grew up as a refugee, learned never to surrender to tragedy, standing tall in defiance of pain adversity and determined to bring pride to his mother’s and family’s hearts. With the encouragement of his father and older brother, Mohammad joined Teborga Sports Club as a bodybuilder, which, according to him, helped strengthen his self-confidence and his spirit.
Wahoud is training under Jordanian coach Ahmed Al-Nawaisa, who won local and Arab championships, and who took him under his wings after seeing a “promising hero” in him.
The sport, however, is a costly one, demanding high expenses not only for the training but also for a good nutrition, which led Mohammad to work two jobs. His coach assigned him other players in the club to train, in addition to his professional work pursuing a career in sports.
Wahoud won his first title in 2018, coming third in the Jordan Championship. And on October 21, 2020, he came second in the junior category, and third in the men category in the same championship. Despite his extraordinary achievements, he regretted that he was not celebrated in his country and among his people, dedicating his win to the “martyrs of the Syria revolution and the free Syrian people.”
“We refugees live full sorrows and, for our achievements, feel only half joys,” Mohamed said.
Zaman Al Wasl
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.