For years, Mariam Alhodaby and Youssef Abdelaziz were simply teammates.
Both talented members of the Egyptian national table tennis team, they were connected only by the rhythmic bounce of the ball and the sharp clack of rackets.
But fate, as it often does, had other plans.
On 20 July in the heart of Cairo, Alhodaby and Albedlaziz exchanged vows at the historic Mosque of Mohamed Aly in the Citadel of Salah El-Din. The wedding was a vibrant celebration, attended by friends, family, and the Egyptian table tennis fraternity.
National stars like four-time Olympian Dina Meshref and Hana Goda were invited to the celebration, alongside coaches, officials, and Mariam’s twin sister, Marwa.
For Youssef, now 25, the moment was years in the making. “The day of our marriage is the best day of my life,” he tells Olympics.com, his voice still full of emotion. “We knew each other from school, then as juniors on the national team. Over time, we grew closer, and in 2024, we decided to pair up in mixed doubles and won Africa together.”