Karateka Mariam Bsharat, 17, wins U21 World Championship gold twice for Palestine - despite travel restrictions, financial hardship, and Olympic exclusion

Mariam Bsharat, a 17-year-old karateka from Palestine, recently won her second gold medal at the U21 World Championship in Poland. After moving to Hamburg due to the Middle East conflict, she reflects on her challenging upbringing in the occupied West Bank, where she faced numerous obstacles in pursuing her sport. Despite the difficulties, including limited training opportunities and travel restrictions, Bsharat feels a strong responsibility to represent her country. Although karate will not be included in the 2028 Olympics, she aims to establish herself in adult competitions and dreams of winning an Olympic medal in the future.