Enshrined: Still Giving it His Best Shot
Two-time Olympian Hassan humbled by induction
Mike Brohard
The pursuit remains the same. The stage is much bigger, and who he represents along his journey has grown in number. And while much of what Mostafa Hassan does to chase his goals is done on his own, he also knows he can count on his roots at Colorado State.
Even a two-time Olympian needs help every now and then from a trusted source when it comes to throwing the shot put.
“It is much more difficult as you don't have the support system you once had in college. I'm pretty much a one-man show right now doing everything I can on my own from recovery to nutrition to injury rehab,” Hassan said. “With Coach (Brian) Bedard helping online of course. But overall, it is good for me. Because if I can succeed doing this on my own I know I can accomplish anything in life.”
He succeeded at plenty in his time as a Ram, winning a pair of NCAA Indoor Championships in the event, finishing as the runner-up once outdoor. A six-time All-American, he won seven conference championships, setting the school records both indoor and outdoor. He added a Nye Award at Colorado State, and now he can add a member of the Hall of Fame.
He is part of the 2025 induction class which includes Ellen Nystrom and Adrianna Culbert (Blackman). They will be honored at the Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on Friday, Sept. 5, as part of the Hall of Fame and Ram Legends Weekend, running through Sept. 7. The trio will be recognized on the field during the Ag Day football game against Northern Colorado.
From Egypt to Fort Collins and now back home again as a professional, his athletic life has been one transformation to the next.
“When he came in he was really quiet, and luckily through my sarcasm it was fun to see his personality develop and then his connection with the team,” Bedard said. “When he was in Egypt, there was not a whole lot of team dynamic at all. He was doing a lot of stuff on his own or a really small throws group.
“I said, I don't think you understand what it's like to be on a team and kind of what's required of that. He didn't. And then we went to one of the first indoor championships with him and our whole team came out and surrounded the shot area and cheered him on, and that just blew him away.”
Becoming a professional in a country without a developed national program has tested Hassan’s resolve and persistence to carry forward. Through covid, he trained in vacant fields, creating his own weight room and circle so he could train, and eventually, qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Games, where he placed eighth. He was back again in 2024 in Paris, finishing 20th.
Now, his sights are set on Los Angeles in 2028, and he does so with the added support of his wife, Salma. Each trip to the Games has taught him something new, only adding to his desire to return and succeed.
Every one of those athletes at the Olympics will do anything to get a medal and you have to have the same mentality.Mostafa Hassan
Not just for himself, for his country.
“To be successful representing my country is my biggest drive. Growing up in Egypt everyone would say you won't succeed in this sport without the proper resources,” he said. “I want to win an Olympic medal to prove that you can accomplish anything regardless of your circumstances.
“I’ve learned that athletes come in all different shapes and sizes and that being at the Olympics is a chance to meet a lot of different athletes from around the world, a lot more than you meet at worlds. I also learned that to be competitive you have to give 100% dedication to your sport whether it's training, sleep or nutrition. Every one of those athletes at the Olympics will do anything to get a medal and you have to have the same mentality.”
As challenging as it is at times to push forward, Bedard said Hassan is built to persevere. It’s who he watched him become while at Colorado State, going from a loner to a team leader and a great teammate.
He’s also ready to take any call, still coaching him via technology through videos and messages sent back and forth. And in true Bedard fashion, he gets a kick out what his pupil has lost – and gained.
“It's going to be fun to touch base with him again in person, see him as a married man. I haven't really seen him in that role yet,” Bedard said. “He's balding a lot more, which makes you happy. You know, he's joining the good looking ball guys club, which I'm excited about.
“But just to see him grow into a husband, and I'm sure eventually a father here and everything. That's going to be fun to watch that. And it's rewarding as a coach to see people in different phases of their life and reconnect with them and see how they're doing and kind of talk about some memories and some life lessons they learned here and there, learn how to work hard and be disciplined and have goals and then how it affects them in their daily life now is pretty important.”
He was thrilled and humbled to get the call about the Hall of Fame, honored to be remembered among other greats in the school’s history. It was unexpected, in a good way, like so many aspects of life.
Throwing now is different than in college, and in some ways, that’s a good thing. He has Salma by his side, and they like to travel when they have time. Instead of classes between throwing sessions, it’s his work in steel scrap recycling.
“Before marriage I was only responsible for myself, so I was only focused on throwing. Now I'm responsible for myself and another human being,” he said. “My goals shifted a little. I want to start my own family and provide for them.”
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