Good News From The Middle East! Ali Boabbas, 15, Wins 800m A 1500m Events

By Steven V. Selthoffer, Chief European Columnist Swimming World

KUWAIT CITY – Yes. You read that right. Good news from the Middle East and of course naturally, it has to do with… swimming.

12^th Arabian Gulf Swimming Championships

At the recent Arabian Gulf Swimming Championships (SC) in Kuwait City, Ali Boabbas, recently turning 15-years-old, had a break out swim, setting a new 15-17 year old age group and senior record in the 1500m with a time of 15:41.80 dropping :36 seconds from his previous personal best time! Boabbas also won the 800m Free with a time of 8:17.97 and was awarded the meet high point trophy.

Proving the maxim that “talent can be found anywhere,” the thing about Ali is that he only just turned 15 and hasn’t even started his peak growing period yet.

Boabbas is coached by top Egyptian coach Moemen Arafa, Kazma Sharks, Kuwait City. Moemen Arafa knows how to spot and find young talent. He also knows how to develop top world class athletes. If the potential is there, Arafa will bring it to the surface one way or the other. Arafa is only one of two ASCA Level 5 coaches in Egypt. The other being national coach, Sherif Habib.

Arafa has created the Science of Swimming Internet site, the first of its kind in the Arabic language linking the top techniques, videos and talks from top athletes, coaches and experts around the world. With a title and focus like that with his Internet site, it puts Arafa in good company. He automatically has won hundreds of new friends who have followed and read Dr. James E. Counsilman’s Science of Swimming, reference book which many accredited for revolutionizing training techniques in the USA.

Reflecting on the meet Arafa said, “We get a lot of support from the national team and from our own home club. Ali is putting in a lot of effort. We are preparing him for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. That is his minor goal, his first step is qualifying for that. Arafa also talked about the 2018 Youth Olympics, “Ali’s major goal is the Youth Olympics. We are planning on that after Rio. Ali is a talented athlete and has a real passion for swimming.”

That must sound good to Egyptian national coach Sherif Habib who coached Cairo native, Ahmed Akram, EGY to victory in the 800m free in a time of 7:54.29 at the Second Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, CHN, August 16-28, 2014. Akram is now at University of South Carolina waiting to demonstrate his talent at his first NCAA Division 1 Championships. You’ve got to smile about this… At Team Egypt they know how to raise up world class freestyle talent.

World Class Facilities

The Kuwaiti’s have poured hundreds of millions of Euros into new aquatic facilities for developing all aquatic Olympic sports. Now, within a short amount of time, they’re benefitting from their own Learn-to-Swim programs, the solid age group programs and teams, now athletes are emerging and moving up the ranks, breaking out onto the international scene.

Ali is now at the entrance door to becoming legitimate world class talent. He still has to grow and to benefit from an enhanced dryland training program. However, Arafa will slowly increase that as Ali develops. But between now and Rio 2016 with Ali, Arafa and others from Team Kuwait putting in the meters working hard, we can all look forward to getting a lot more good news coming out of the Middle East.

For more information please go to: Science of Swimming (Arabic Language) SwimSci.net

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

1 Comment

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Attila Molnár

9 years ago

Big gratulation! 🙂