18 Jan 2024
Aspire Academy’s swimmers feel they have gained in confidence after their successes at the Arab Aquatics Age Group Championships as they prepare for the upcoming Asian Age Group Aquatics Championships.
Qatar’s team at the Arab event won a total of 40 medals (16 gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze) with Aspire Academy student-athletes and graduates winning more than half of those as they claimed 11 gold, 6 silver and 6 bronze.
A total of 16 nations and around 300 swimmers took part in the event which featured three age groups – 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18.
Academy student-athlete Ahmed Diab was named as the swimmer of the championships for the 15-16 age group as he won 6 medals (4 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze), while Qatar was awarded the team of the event for the age group.
Diab, who is in Grade 11, is already looking ahead to the next challenge.
“My aim is to participate in the Asian Age Group championships in the Philippines in February and raise Qatar’s name there,” he said.
“I learnt a lot from the Arab championships - here are things I have to improve such as my technique. Also that every aspect of the race is important and can make the difference between winning and losing – so the start, the turns and underwater management are all key.”
“It was also important to compete against other Arab swimmers to see how they work and exchange ideas with them.”
The event was held in the pool at Aspire which has been built to host the upcoming World Aquatics Championships, which begin on 2 February.
“With Aspire Academy hosting the World Aquatic Championships soon, it will be a great opportunity for me and my teammates to watch the great star swimmers and learn from them,” Diab continued.
“Many of them are either world champions or Olympic champions so it will be great to see them here and get inspiration from them, learn from their experience and talent.”
Yuri Vlasov, the Junior Swimming Coach for the Qatar Swimming Federation, praised the efforts of the swimmers at the championships.
“We are very happy with these Arab Championships, it was a really successful competition for us,” he explained.
“Not only in terms of the medals that we won but also most of the boys achieved personal bests.”
“It has given us confidence and shown we can swim at a higher level.”
The coach says the performances have given him and the swimmers confidence ahead of the Asian event.
“The Asian Age Group Championships in February are going to be very tough, but I am confident we can fight for podium places,” he insisted.
“The main goal is to get as many swimmers into finals as possible and then we can battle for the medals.”
“Competitions are very important for the boys because training is not always very exciting, but when they compete all their hard work pays off.”
“They can enjoy swimming fast and savour the environment with family and friends cheering them creating a great atmosphere.”
As well as the medals and awards at the Arab event there were two new national records for Aspire Academy graduate Yousef Hassan Abouelela. He broke his own records for the 100m and 200m backstroke (long course).
The 11th Asian Age Group Aquatics Championships are set to begin on the 26 February and run until 9 March in the Philippines.
Medals and achievements at the 2nd Arab Aquatic Age Group Championships by Aspire Academy student-athletes and graduates.
17-18 Age Group
Omar Hassan Abouelela (Graduated 2023)
Gold: 200m individual medley, 200m breaststroke
Silver: 4x100 freestyle relay
Bronze: 200m butterfly, 4x200m freestyle relay
Yousef Hassan Abouelela (Graduated 2023)
Gold: 4x100m medley relay
Silver: 4x100 freestyle relay
Bronze: 50m backstroke (joint), 200m backstroke, 4x200m freestyle relay, 5km open water
New National Records for 100m and 200m backstroke (long course)
Ali Al-Nuaimi (Grade 12)
Gold: 4x100m medley relay
Silver: 4x100m freestyle relay
15-16 Age Group
Abdala Elghamry (Grade 11)
Gold: 200m backstroke, 4x200m freestyle relay, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
Bronze: 50m backstroke
Ahmed Diab (Grade 11)
Gold: 50m breaststroke, 4x200m freestyle relay, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
Silver: 200m freestyle
Bronze: 50m freestyle
Also named swimmer of the championships for the age group
Hamza Shalan (Grade 10)
Gold: 4x200m freestyle relay, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
Silver: 200m individual medley
Aziz Ismael Mohamed (Grade 10)
Gold: 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 4x200m freestyle relay, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
Silver: 200m butterfly, 5km open water
Qatar named team of the championships for the age group
13-14 Age Group
Ziad Morsy (Grade 10)
Gold: 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke
Bronze: 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
Marwan Hassan (Grade 10)
Gold: 200m backstroke
Silver: 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke
Bronze: 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
Saad Al Sulaiti (Grade 9)
Bronze: 100m butterfly, 4x100m medley relay