During a reception ceremony held Thursday by "Syria's Youth Imprint" foundation at the Cultural Center in Tartous province, Shouaa said her return to the homeland came in the framework ...of her determination to work hand in hand with its fellow citizens for a brighter future to help Syria overcome its current crisis and keep its flag fluttering.
Born in the small Syrian city of Mhardeh in Hama province, Shouaa's first sport was basketball. She played on the Syrian national team for a few years, but then decided to compete in athletics.
Her breakthrough did not come until 1995, when she won the gold medal in the 1995 World Championships in Athletics, held in Gothenburg in Sweden.
She confirmed her status as the best heptathlete at the time, winning Syria's first Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
A serious injury however kept Shouaa away from athletics for three years during which she was being treated under the auspices of President Bashar al-Assad until 1999, when she placed third at the World Championships in Athletics in Seville.
In her speech, Shouaa extended greetings to the soldiers of Syrian Arab Army, saying the army's motto "Homeland…Honor…Honesty" represents each and every honest Syrian form which he/she draws the ability for steadfastness and making achievements for Syria's sake.
Chairman of Tartous City Council, Yasser Deeb, highlighted the importance of the role the Syrian athletes can play during the current crisis alongside the soldiers in the battle in terms of standing hand in hand to defend the country.
He said that Shouaa and all of Syria's educated youth are the example that protects the real image of Syria in the face of the campaigns of distortions and falsification targeting it.
Eng. Abdullah al-Mohammad, representative of "Syria's Youth Imprint" in Tartous, said the reception ceremony came in the framework of a campaign the institution has launched to urge and encourage the Syrian expatriate talents and skills to return to the homeland at this time while it is going through its currnet crisis.
Deputy chairperson of the Syrian Arab community in the Netherlands, Evit Shamiyeh, said Shouaa has courageously insisted to come back home leaving its work in Germany to stand by its fellow citizens at a time when many Syrian expatriates gave up to the fear and preferred to stay abroad.
http://sana.sy/eng/30/2013/08/16/497531.htm
