International show jumper Sameh El Dahan has announced his decision to switch his sport nationality back to his native country of Egypt, after a five-year tenure competing under the British flag. The 41-year-old athlete, who has been based at Sycamore Stables in Northern Ireland for the past fifteen years, originally made the switch to Great Britain in 2021. Now, he feels the time is right to return to his roots and actively contribute to the future of Egyptian equestrian sports.
A new era for Egyptian equestrianism
El Dahan, who achieved some of his greatest career milestones under the Egyptian flag—most notably winning the prestigious 2018 Rolex Grand Prix of Spruce Meadows aboard his top mare Suma's Zorro—has been closely monitoring the positive changes within the Egyptian Equestrian Federation. The progress made by the federation’s new leadership served as the primary catalyst for his decision to return.
Taking to social media to share the news, El Dahan expressed his admiration for the sport’s new direction in his home country:
"I have been closely following and deeply appreciating the immense effort and hard work that the new board of the Egyptian Equestrian Federation has put in over the last couple of years. Their vision and dedication have inspired me. For me, this feels like the perfect moment to return and play my part in helping to elevate the Egyptian team back to the highest echelons of international show jumping."
Saying goodbye to Team GB in style
El Dahan parts ways with the British equestrian authorities (British Equestrian and British Showjumping) on excellent terms. Reflecting on his time representing Great Britain, he expressed immense gratitude toward his teammates, horse owners, and supporters who backed him throughout the past few years.
His final performance under the British flag could not have been scripted any better. In his last official appearance for Team GB at the CSI2* Grand Prix in Mullingar, Ireland, El Dahan claimed a spectacular victory riding the 13-year-old mare WKD Aimez Moi. Closing this successful British chapter with a win, he now fully focuses his ambitions on a bright future representing Egypt on the world stage.
