Despite winning the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter athletics competitions at the Mediterranean Games, Egyptian Basant Hamida sparked controversy among Egyptians, for her prostration while wearing shorts at the moment of her victory.
After she ran 100 meters in a time of 11.10 seconds, becoming the first Egyptian female athlete to win a gold medal, especially in this race in athletics throughout history, she kneeled down thanking God for this achievement!
What prompted some to launch a bullying campaign against her because of her prostration, which they described as inappropriate!
However, millions of Egyptians defended her, her position and her spontaneous reaction at this moment of victory, and supported her through social media.
This is a sweet shot. It has beauty and joy that is not normal, with Sant Hamida and her husband, her “coach” ❤️???? pic.twitter.com/I9cWbQKiuJ
— ???????????????? Nefertari (@MoZh93) July 1, 2022
And one of the tweeters said: “For the fault of the Egyptian national team, they prostrate themselves while they are wearing shorts above the knee, so what is the difference, I do not understand?
Crying and screaming
Basant entered the moment of her victory in a fit of crying and screaming. I bowed thankfully on the ground, and turned that shot from a moment of victory and achievement into a campaign of criticism, considering that the shorts are not a dress for prayer.
On the other hand, a video spread showing the Egyptian heroine immediately after her victory as she asked for the Egyptian flag to raise it for her country’s pride and as a gesture of love and honor for her.