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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 5 - 11 October 2000 Issue No. 502 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 5 - 11 October 2000 Issue No. 502
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Elections Region International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Fish out of water
Two days after returning from Sydney Rania Elwani, right, dropped two bombshells: she announced her retirement and had donned the higab, thus abruptly ending her sensational swimming career. Dubbed by local media "the golden fish," Elwani said on a Nile TV programme, "This is the best I can do," when told that at age 22 she could still swim competitively for many years to come. "I can do no better," was her curt reply. Her father Amr Elwani, president of the Egyptian Volleyball Federation, was earlier quoted by reporters as saying the higab was a personal affair and suggested that nobody interfere. Egypt's most prolific swimmer ever, Elwani, a three-time Olympian, reached the semi-finals in Sydney in the 50-metre and 100-metre freestyle, placing 11th and 15th respectively with times good enough to set Arab and African records. The highlight of her career was winning two gold medals and a silver in the 1997 Mediterranean Games in Bari, Italy. Graduated from medical school in the US, where she has been residing and training, Elwani plans to start a practice in Egypt.
