4 -10 April 2002
Issue No.580
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 4 -10 April 2002 Issue No.580 |
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Half-time
Treading water
Egyptian crocodiles by the human names of Ishak Helmi, Abdel-Latif Abou Heif, Abdel-Moneim Abdou and El-Shazli once ruled the high seas and oceans. In the 1950s and 60s, no wave was too high, no current too strong, no body of water too vast to conquer. But they were the last of Egypt's great long-distance swimmers. The sport has long since sunk into oblivion.
Last month, at Dubai's international long-distance swimming championship, our latest band of swimmers to ply the waters floundered famously. The best result was accorded to Mohamed Sorour, who finished a far off 15th place; a further nine places behind was Mohamed Hassan. Saving some blushes for the men was Heba Mamdouh who placed eighth among the women. At their peak, Egyptians Inas Haqi, Mariam Farid and Lamiaa Nabil would not only have come first among women but would have, going by their times, left quite a few men in their wake.
What troubles us is why the big drop in a sport Egypt once had a lock and key on. The Nile is still there for all to train in. Most of the swimmers of the past are still around who could coach the new generation. The budget provided by the federation must be better than it was. And besides a pair of trunks, what other equipment is needed?
Perhaps just as important, long-distance swimming is by no means a sport practiced by millions, followed by millions or in which millions are made. Meaning that the competition is much less than in a sport such as football. And the less the competition, the more likely that those who are competing will succeed.
Yet, despite all the reasons why Egypt should still be the best in this sport, they still add up to very little.
Our once uncontested world ranking has long been overtaken. Syria, unheard of in long-distance swimming, is now making waves, courtesy of the Moalaas, a family of four brothers and a cousin who have been among the world's top 10 for years.
Egypt is no longer in the top 10. In the annual Nile International and Canal championships, the top 20 has been more like it.
What is truly galling is that those responsible for long- distance swimming in Egypt are now proud to announce that they have succeeded in persuading world champions to come over to participate in tournaments here. As if we had never seen a world champion in the sport before.
When last year the International Long- Distance Swimming Federation named Abou- Heif the swimmer of the century, that was probably to be Egypt's final honour in a sport the country was faring in so swimmingly.
Inas Mazhar
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