Swimming Against The Tide: Egyptian triathlete fosters hope through adaptive sport

Driven by a belief that sports are a catalyst for mental well-being and personal growth, Omar Hegazy envisions a world where every individual, regardless of ability, has equal access to the transformative power of sports. Omar is making this dream a reality at home in Egypt through his athletic endeavors and advocacy work. He made history as the first amputee to swim across the Gulf of Aqaba and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest underwater swim with one breath. To Omar, these accomplishments are more than personal triumphs: they are testaments to the strength of human potential.

Omar shares his love of sports in a unique way. In addition to creating partnerships across the sports ecosystem in Egypt, organizing community service opportunities, sharing his personal story with local and national audiences, Omar founded a sports management company, legendsofegypt.net, an organization that manages sports events and swimming academies, and launched Ne2dar, a mental health initiative that aims to provide comprehensive mental health support to people with disabilities.

During the GSMP, Omar hopes to gain the knowledge and skills to expand the work of his organization to include adaptive triathlon training, as this is his preferred sport as an athlete. He also aspires to learn informed strategies for expanding the disability sports market in Egypt. With these tools, Omar will be equipped to realize his goals even more effectively: to unlock the limitless potential within each person, foster hope, and build legends beyond limitations.

Omar will be mentored by Derek Daniels, the Director of Adaptive Sports & Fitness programs at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.