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‘I was honoured to carry the British flag’: showjumper switches back nationality after five years

Becky Murray Becky Murray

    • Top level showjumper Sameh El Dahan, who has flown the British flag for the last five years, has switched nationality back to his home country Egypt.

    During his time riding for Britain Sameh made two Nations Cup appearances, at Spruce Meadows in 2023 and 2024, and he has continued to be a regular on the CSI5* circuit, competing in grands prix around the world.

    Sameh represented Egypt at the 2014 and 2018 World Equestrian Games but switched nationality to Great Britain in 2021 following a dispute with Egypt’s federation over selection for the Tokyo Olympics, after he helped his country qualify for the Games.

    “Today I return back to represent my home country of Egypt,” said Sameh, on 2 June.

    “Having seen the efforts the new administration of the Egyptian federation have been putting in place for the last few years, I feel now is the time to return and to do my part to help my team to return to the top of the international stage once again.

    “I was honoured to carry the British flag for that stage of my career. Whilst it was a brief period, I’d like to think that it was a great one and I made all of you proud, especially my final bow for Team GB being a winning one, taking the CSI2* grand prix in Mullingar.”

    Sameh said he has “so many precious memories that he will keep forever in his heart” and added “how much he was welcomed in my time of need by such a great country”.

    “In saying that I’m also excited to see what’s next for us as a team and returning to ride and compete for Egypt is a feeling I have missed,” he said.

    “I would like to thank all members of the British equestrian federation, chef d’equipe Di Lampard for all the opportunities and all my teammates in Team GB for their support.

    “Thank you everyone for the continued support and following us on our journey and this new exciting part of it, [I’m] very grateful to have it.”

    Sameh has achieved the required qualifying results for this summer’s World Championships in Aachen. As he did not represent Britain at a championships and has not jumped on a team competition since September 2024, he is eligible to represent Egypt at Aachen. National federations must submit their nominated entries to the FEI by 6 July.

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    Becky Murray
    Becky Murray

    H&H senior news writer
    Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
    Becky Murray

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