3 expat women who practiced prostitution in a hotel arrested in Riyadh    Tunisian president and Saudi interior minister discuss security cooperation    Saudi, US defense ministers discuss over phone ways to enhance strategic cooperation    Grand Mufti expresses pride over Saudi Arabia's firm position on Palestine issue    Saudi Arabia's inflation records slight rise reaching 2% in January 2025    Electromin celebrates victory of "Nissan Formula E Team" in "Jeddah E-Prix" as first Saudi private-sector global partner in Formula E    Saudi Arabia vows full support to Lebanon's actions to safeguard citizens' security    US-made heavy bombs arrive in Israel after Biden-era hold    Death toll from New Delhi railway station stampede rises to 18    US, Russia to begin Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia    Al Ittihad CEO calls for fairness as Al Hilal raises officiating concerns ahead of Saudi Classico    LG Electronics Saudi Arabia and Shaker Group mark 30 years of sustainable innovation in HVAC solutions    Benzema shines with goal and two assists as Al Ittihad dominate Al Wehda French star leads Al Ittihad to 4-1 victory, extending lead over Al Hilal ahead of top-of-the-table clash    Saudi Arabia among world's top 10 energy storage markets    Al Hilal held to controversial 1-1 draw against Al Riyadh, missing chance to reclaim top spot    Al Hilal accuses SPL's Michael Emenalo of bias and SFF's Manuel Navarro of pressuring team to accept local referees Club criticizes officiating, calls for elite foreign referees in Saudi Pro League    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    HONOR brings together AI and luxury with PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic7 RSR at LEAP 2025    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Egyptian amputee defies odds swimming longest distance with one breath
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 06 - 04 - 2022

A 31-year-old Egyptian amputee man just broke two Guinness World Records titles for the Longest distance swam underwater with one breath (LA1) swimming 56.48 meters, and another similar record using fins swimming 76.7 meters.
Omar Hegazy has triumphed over unbelievable odds to become one of the world's finest athletes achieving an incredible feat.
Born in 1990, something awful happened to Hegazy 25 years later on his way to beginning a new life as a banker in Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Hegazy was taking a new big step to living new life by the sea in what was supposed to be of his choice far from restrictions.
Driving a motorcycle during a summer day in 2015, Hegazy was unlucky as he drove over a road pit to find himself under a moving truck in few seconds.
"In that moment, I didn't know if I was dead or alive," said Hegazy. Seconds later, pedestrians dived to the ground to pick him up and took him to a close hospital. He was losing consciousness, but pain was bringing him back to his senses momentarily."
Arriving to the scene, his parents decided an immediate transfer to a hospital in Cairo. "I was not allowed proper food for days until my situation stabilized and I realized I might get into an operation at any point of time. When the doctors made their final recommendation for amputation, I was very calm. I asked for an immediate operation and cosmetic amputation for the remaining limb."
Surgeons were worried Hegazy was not comprehending the situation correctly given his reactions. They had to put him for mental diagnosis for couple of weeks to make sure he is in shape.
Daily life was a trauma as Hegazy was suddenly unable to do simple tasks like picking up his phone from under a bed, going downstairs with no handrail, or going to the bathroom independently.
"My effort to collect my phone from under the bed would take an hour trying not to wake up my sleeping mom in a hospital room. My mental health was collapsing dramatically, and I started to have an identity crisis. I didn't know what I was capable of."
After three months in a rehabilitation hospital, Hegazy learned how to use a crutch and a wheelchair. Then he traveled to Germany in hopes for best medical assistance to design a prosthetic leg. Post-surgery, Omar slipped into a state of depression.
Hegazy had a fiancé who was his main supporter especially in the beginning. However, later disagreement led them to part.
After struggling for months, he bounced back to life reading a story published in June 2021 about Darine Barbar, an amputee athlete from Lebanon who made history by breaking a Guinness World Records title for the Longest Samson's chair/static wall sit (female) 28 years after losing her leg as a teenager to bone cancer.
So, he started reading more and came across another story of Faisal Al Mosawi, a disabled diver who broke the world record for the Fastest 10 km SCUBA diving in an inspirational 5 hours and 24 minutes dive in 2018.
"My source of motivation in the beginning was that I do not have much left to lose. I only got into swimming because I was a very angry. I found a way to let out my anger and frustration, but it was also where I felt really free and capable," he added.
Not only breaking world records, Hegazy swam across the Aqaba Gulf, Cycled from Taba in Sinai Peninsula to the Egyptian Pyramids in Giza, and climbed a mountain.
People overcoming odds is actually a really important part of humanity, and I don't think we kind of get to celebrate that as much as we should. He is now a motivational speaker helping others overcoming their mental struggles, and has done multiple talks both on TV and Infront of an audience.
It may seem odd that a swimmer with one leg could do more than able-bodied athletes, however, Hegazy now wants to inspire other people with disabilities to chase their dreams and 'think positive' if an obstacle comes their way.
"I hope these Guinness World Records titles inspire others and serves as a reminder that amazing is somewhere near you, you just have to wide-open your eyes," he concluded. — SG


Clic here to read the story from its source.