A disabled Egyptian swimmer is impressive in the US, writes Abeer Anwar Fahd El-Khayal took third place in a long-distance swimming championship, becoming the first Egyptian to represent the Middle East and North Africa region of Special Olympics in a long-distance swimming event. Asked to select a swimmer to represent the MENA region in the International San Francisco Open Water One Mile Race, Special Olympics Egypt (SOE) held a mini-competition for all swimmers who could compete. Twenty-seven athletes took part in the one-day event. They were asked to swim 1,000 metres. "Of course, it was difficult for almost all the athletes because the mile is very difficult for even able-bodied swimmers, let alone those who are mentally handicapped," Reda Abu Zeid, SOE swimming coach, said. The sole finisher was Fahd El- Khayal from Misr Language Schools. Following that achievement, El- Khayal, 25, entered a three-month training camp under the guidance of Abu Zeid. He trained in the Nile with and against the wind. He also travelled to Gerbi at Ras Sidr for more training in the mile, which equals 1,852 metres. "It was very hectic as it was my first time in a long-distance race," El- Khayal said of his San Francisco swim. "The water was freezing but I was happy to finish third among swimmers from all over the world." The water temperature was 10 degrees centigrade, forcing El-Khayal to wear a rubber suit -- like what deep-sea divers wear -- something he was unfamiliar with. "I think he would have done better if he had not been wearing it," Abu Zeid said. Competing with El-Khayal were swimmers from the world's seven continents. The San Francisco race is a yearly event but it was the first time SO took part in it. Fahd is an experienced swimmer at the Shooting Club. Born with Down's syndrome, his mother, a pediatrician, knew he had to play sports to strengthen his muscles. He joined the swimming team at six and never looked back. He likes butterfly and freestyle events the most. The first major tournament for El- Khayal was in 1990 in Madrid. He failed to win a medal but it was his first taste of an international championship. In the All-Africa Games in 1991 he took the silver medal. When the SOE was established in 1994, El-Khayal was one of its first athletes. Since then, he took part in the 1995 Connecticut World Games where he won one gold and two silver medals. In the 1999 North Carolina World Summer Games, he won two silver and one bronze. In the SO MENA Games in Lebanon 2002, he took one silver and one gold. In 2003 he entered the Special Olympics World Summer Games where he won two silver and one bronze. "El-Khayal has benefited a lot from sports. He has become more self- confident and friendly," his mother said. El-Khayal has been working in Misr Language Schools in printing and photocopying for the past five years. He is also an assistant swimming coach and has completed a course at the Shooting Club on how to read and write. El-Khayal was congratulated by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, Egypt's honorary chairwoman of SOE, following the San Francisco race.
