Palestinian power lifter and doctoral candidate Ahmed Abukhater.

When the 2004 United States National Bench Press Champion Ahmed Abukhater competes for the world title this fall, he will be lifting under a different flag. In 2006, Palestinian-born Abukhater broke new ground as the first power lifter to represent Palestine in the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters (WABDL) World Championship. Lifting 407 pounds, he placed fifth in the world and set a new Palestinian national record. "I almost cannot explain the feeling of happiness when I saw the Palestinian flag displayed proudly and clearly among other nations," he said. Abukhater represented Palestine again in the WABDL World Championship in November, 2007, in Anaheim, California. He won his division and set a new Palestinian record, lifting 452 pounds.

Abukhater is currently a doctoral candidate in Community and Regional Planning at the University of Texas in Austin. His focus is on water resources management and conflict resolution.

Abukhater was born in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, in 1977. He first came to the United States as a Clinton Scholar in 2001 to earn his Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois.

His father, a high school English teacher in Gaza, introduced him to power lifting when he was a child as a way to stay in shape. "When I talk to people in Gaza today, they can't fathom that I'm a PhD candidate and a competitive power lifter," says Abukhater. "In Palestine, sports are not our first priority because of the daily struggle and limited resources. But we shouldn't let this hinder our spirit to compete and ability to represent Palestine in a positive way," he adds.

Despite being a record-setting athlete, Abukhater says what he is most proud of are his Palestinian roots. His parents and five siblings still live in Rafah. "Being Palestinian, and being able to get out of such a difficult situation and do something good for my family and for Palestine means the
world to me," he said.

After completing his PhD, Abukhater may continue to teach at universities and to publish. "I want to share my perspective as someone who lived there and who struggled to acquire water on a daily basis. We take it for granted here, but for people in Gaza it is almost an insurmountable task to cope with the intermittent water supply that Israel controls. Coming here to study and to work will give me the tools I need to be of service," he said.