By: Yomna Walid&nbsp;
Wrapped in the Egyptian flag and standing tall on the podium, Farida Khalil just made sports history. At only 14 years old, she struck gold at the Modern Pentathlon World Championship in Lithuania; becoming the youngest women&rsquo;s singles champion ever. With an impressive 1,457 points against athletes from 32 nations, Farida has already earned a spot among the sport&rsquo;s brightest stars.
And her 2025 season is totally unmatched. From gold at the World Cup in Cairo, silver in Hungary, and more golds in Bulgaria and Alexandria, to sweeping both the Youth and Junior World Championships, Farida has been unstoppable. She even smashed world records across senior, U20, and U17 levels, something no one her age has ever done before.
NileFM sat down with Farida to chat about her incredible journey, how she juggles school with training, and what&rsquo;s next for Egypt&rsquo;s very own pentathlon prodigy.
<a href="https://ibb.co/6c9jp5RX"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/j90nxFvJ/1.png" alt="1" border="0" /></a> Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Farida Khalil, I&rsquo;m 14 years old, and I&rsquo;m a modern pentathlete from Egypt. Even though I&rsquo;m still young, I&rsquo;ve been lucky enough to compete at the highest level and win multiple World Cups and World Championships.
How did you first get involved in modern pentathlon?
I started really young because I loved sports and being active. At first, I was into swimming and running, but when I discovered modern pentathlon, with its five disciplines, it felt like the perfect challenge. The variety kept me motivated, and I enjoyed pushing myself to get better every day.
What inspired you to choose this sport over others?
What inspired me is how unique pentathlon is. Not many athletes can say they train in fencing, swimming, riding, running, and shooting all together. It&rsquo;s a complete test of body and mind, and I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle it. I was also inspired by Egyptian champions who showed me that we can compete with the very best in the world.
<a href="https://ibb.co/2zf6rMC"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Xnv4P5K/2.png" alt="2" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;
How was the competition at the World Championships and World Cup series?
It was intense, every athlete was world-class, including Olympic champions. But I stayed focused on myself and tried not to be intimidated. Each event pushed me to give my best, and in the end, I managed to perform strongly and make history by winning gold.
What has been the biggest challenge you&rsquo;ve faced in your journey so far?
Balancing everything at such a young age. Competing against older, more experienced athletes can feel overwhelming, and managing my emotions has been a big lesson. But I&rsquo;ve learned that believing in yourself is the most important thing.
<a href="https://ibb.co/0jyyVLrz"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/vx44vWkM/3.png" alt="3" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;
How do you balance training, competitions, and school life?
It&rsquo;s definitely not easy! I have to stay very organized and disciplined. My family and coaches help me create a schedule so I can focus on both my studies and training. Sometimes it means missing out on things other kids my age do, but I know my goals are worth it.
How did it feel to make history by winning multiple world titles in the same year?
It was unbelievable. Achieving something no one expected from a 14-year-old was beyond my dreams. Standing on the podium with Egypt&rsquo;s flag was the proudest moment of my life and gave me huge motivation for the future.
Who has been your biggest support or mentor throughout your career?
My family has always been my biggest support, especially my mother and brothers. They&rsquo;ve been with me through the tough training sessions and the big wins. My dad also plays a huge role in guiding me and helping me believe in myself.
What are your short-term and long-term goals in the sport?
In the short term, I want to keep improving and stay consistent across all five disciplines. Long term, my dream is to compete at the Olympic Games and hopefully win gold for Egypt. I also want to inspire other young athletes to believe in themselves.
What advice would you give to other young athletes chasing their dreams?
Believe in yourself, even if others doubt you. Work hard every single day, stay patient, and never give up on your dreams. Success doesn&rsquo;t happen overnight, but if you love what you do and stay committed, anything is possible.
<a href="https://ibb.co/BHZpDD3C"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/5X80DD4R/4.png" alt="4" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;

On Air Now

Non-Stop Music

You May like

Schedule

Non-Stop Music