Mohammed Ziyad Albess is a name that I believe more people should know. I first discovered him through a now-viral reel on his Instagram. What I didn't know was that a video of a man max-benching surrounded by rubble was a window into one of the most incredible stories I've ever heard.
Mohammed is a powerlifter, former Palestine National Team strength athlete, bodybuilding coach, sports nutrition specialist, Bachelor of Physical Education, husband, and gym owner in Gaza. After years of hard work, he opened Champions Factory in Khan Yunis, with dreams of helping others and achieving a world record in the bench press. All of that was turned upside down when both his home and his new gym were destroyed by the IDF's indiscriminate air strikes, and by an Israeli sniper shooting him in the arm.
Despite facing loss, fear, famine, injury and destruction, Mohammed has not given up on his dreams, nor on the gymgoers who still show up and work out in Champions Factory. He works hard to keep the gym open, providing a refuge and community for guys to hang out, connect, stay strong, blow off steam, and maintain their dignity and some normalcy during an ongoing genocide.
The courage of Mohammed and the whole Champions Factory community serve as a beacon of humanity, and they need our help. With Mohammed's blessing and permission, I opened this store to raise funds for him, and to help spread his and Champions Factory's names far and wide. 100% of profits go to him to help him and his family survive, and to one day rebuild his gym. Buying merch and wearing their name proudly is one way to support them. If you'd rather donate directly to his fundraiser, I encourage you to do so! My goal is to get him as much help as possible, not to sell as many shirts as possible.
Thank you for being a champion.