The continental medals weren’t Safa’s final target though and in October 2024 she won an historic medal, a bronze at the Dushanbe World Junior Championships.
The teenager spoke then about what the medal meant, “I’m very happy to have won this medal. it’s been a long time since an African athlete did this. It’s a great result for Egypt."
"I made a lot of investment and worked hard. Training is needed very often but it’s a pity there are so few women where I am. It takes a lot of effort, personal choices and work. I’m happy that I have this junior world medal and it will certainly have a positive impact on women and girls in Egypt and Africa."
"I thank all the coaches who contributed and also president of our federation, and my judo club for their support. We do very technical training with coaches Atef, Hiroshi and Aboumedan.”
That was in October and in July 2025, she continued to collect results, winning her second junior African title, this time in Luanda, Angola. Present at the event was none other than 6-time senior world champion Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA), leading masterclasses, speaking with African judoka and inspiring the young athletes present.
The buzz around Clarisse’s presence was clear evidence of the power of inspiration and now Safa Soliman is in the privileged position of being both inspired and inspiring at the same time, an example of the power of sport in so many ways. She is one to watch as the future approaches, a strong symbol of the power and potential of the new generation of African women in judo.
