Hesham Mesbah distinguished himself in the men’s under-90kg category.

Having been on the podium at the African Championships several times since 2001, Mesbah finished fifth at the World Championships organised for the first time in Egypt and on the African continent in 2005.

He also came fifth at the 2007 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

In 2008, at his second Olympic Games, Mesbah secured the bronze medal by beating France’s Yves Matthieu Dafreville.

He won Egypt’s second Olympic medal in judo, 24 years after Mohamed Ali Rashwan, had claimed silver at Los Angeles 1984.