'If a woman trains hard, she can be stronger than the strongest of men.'
IMAGE: Dina Abdel-Maksoud, a 21-year-old Egyptian bodybuilder champion, gestures during her training at a gym. Photographs: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters
Egyptian female bodybuilder Dina Abdel Maksoud has had to overcome prejudice as well as fellow competitors to become a champion.
In a country where bodybuilding is widely viewed as the province of men, the 21-year-old has spent eight years pumping iron and defying social norms.
She spends on average two hours at the gym each day, but double when she trains for a competition. In October she won golds at two events in Ukraine.
"If you train for bodybuilding you will achieve your dreams. If a woman trains hard, she can be stronger than the strongest of men. So, do not let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do," she said.
