An elderly Egyptian Masters swimmer gets ready to swim in Alexandria, Egypt, on Oct. 31, 2019. Masters swimming, a fast-growing leisure activity, is a special class of competitive swimming for swimmers of 25 years and older. In Egypt, Masters swimming started since early 2000s, and it is spreading notably in recent years. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
By Ahmed Shafiq
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- 86-year-old Egyptian Masters swimmer, Mahfouz Gerges, is not only able to exercise almost daily, but also to compete in local swimming tournaments.
"I have been a swimming hobbyist since 1970, but I have become a competitive Masters swimmer only last year," Gerges told Xinhua as he prepared himself for a 200-meter freestyle event at a two-day local championship.
During his first year as a professional Masters swimmer, Gerges, who represents Cairo's al-Alhy Sporting Club, won gold in Egypt's Masters men's 200m freestyle.
"I decided to take up the challenge and prove to everyone that age is just a number," Gerges proudly said. "I compete with men who are 50 years younger than me and I beat them effortlessly."
Despite his age, Gerges works out three times a week under the supervision of a professional coach at the Cairo-based al-Ahly Club, the most popular sporting club in the North African country.
"I exercise for the sake of my health before anything else...people in my age can barely help themselves, but training and swimming keep me young and strong," Gerges, who is a retired physical education teacher, said after he won second position in the 200m race at the Alexandria Rotary Club's competition.
Masters swimming, a fast-growing leisure activity, is a special class of competitive swimming for swimmers at 25 years and older.
In Egypt, Masters swimming started at early 2000s, and it is spreading notably in recent years.
There are hundreds of Masters swimmers in Egypt in 12 clubs who compete in national competitions. Some of them compete in FINA Worlds Masters Championships as well as other international tournaments.
Mary al-Haj, a swimmer with Sporting Club in Alexandria, is one of those who previously participated in international championships.
"I participated in many international competitions including the FINA World Masters Championships," al-Haj, who earned top honors at the Alexandria Rotary Club's women's 200m backstroke in the 50-54 age group, told Xinhua.
Al-Haj said she has been practicing Masters swimming since 2004, adding that she is also a swimming coach with Sporting Club in Alexandria.
"Such competitions are very important as they push us to exercise more so as to perform perfectly and achieve advanced rankings," she said. "Masters swimming is generally important since it helps people swim at advanced age which keeps them healthy."
Since she joined the club, al-Haj has always been among the top 10 in her age class, most notably in the 200m butterfly and freestyle events.
Al-Haj noted that she is much inspired and encouraged by her older teammates who always proved that nothing could stop them from swimming and exercising.
"I'm decades younger than many of my teammates and friends at the club, but their enthusiasm and morale are way younger than mine. They are one of the reasons why I still continue swimming."
