Egyptian Swimmer With Down Syndrome Getting Ready to Cross the English Channel

Egyptian Swimmer Mohamed Al-Husseini, with down syndrome, is set to cross the English channel, from the South of England to the North of France, in August.

The 18-year-old swimmer spends more than 10 hours a day training in the open waters in Egypt’s Red Sea city of Hurghada, with the full support of his family. Al-Husseini also wishes to meet President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi before he embarks on his journey.

The English Swimming Association has set the period from 24 August to 4 September for Al-Husseini to cross the English channel.

Al-Husseini will be the first Egyptian swimmer with down syndrome to cross the English channel. He aspires to inspire many youths by crossing the English channel.

Al-Husseini is training under the supervision of coaches from the Stroke for Egypt Academy (SFEA), a swimming association. He says he is positive that he will finish the 36-kilometer marathon from the South of England to the North of France in 15 hours nonstop.

The training program that Al-Husseini follows includes physical and psychological training, including the hardships that the swimmer may have to deal with like water currents and the low temperature at night, his trainer told the privately-owned Al-Masry Al-Youm.

The American University in the Emirates (AUE) is helping Al-Husseini reach his goal. The president and CEO of AUE Muthanna G. Abdul Razzaq said that he believes about 13 people with special needs have crossed the English channel. However, he believes that what Al-Husseini is attempting to accomplish deserves appreciation and a Guinness record, according to Gulf News.

ِAs he resides in the United Arab Emirates, Al-Husseini said that upon his arrival, he will raise both the Egyptian and Emirati flags.

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