03 Mar 2024
Aspire Academy graduate Mohamed Mahmoud put on an impressive display at the 11th Asian Age Group Aquatics Championships in the Philippines as he won Qatar’s first-ever swimming medals at a continental level.
Mohamed Mahmoud, who graduated from Aspire in 2022, claimed two bronze medals in the men’s 200m individual medley and the 50m freestyle in the over 18 category.
As well as his medals Mohamed Mahmoud also broke his own Qatari national records in three events.
He twice broke his lowered his mark for the 50m freestyle at the event firstly in his heat and once again in the final as he lowered the mark from 23.33s to 22.90.
He also broke his own record for the 200m individual medley as he won bronze and his third national record came as he narrowly missed out on a medal in the 100m freestyle as he finished fourth.
"I'm so proud to be the first swimmer to win a medal for Qatar at continental level, this shows that my dedication, perseverance and hard work have been worth and I have produced the results that I have always dreamed of," Mohamed Mahmoud said after the first medal.
It has been a successful few weeks for Mohamed Mahmoud after participating in the World Aquatics Championships in Doha where he set a Qatari record in the 50m butterfly.
Aspire Academy student-athlete Ziad Morsy produced some outstanding performances in the 12-14 age group in the Philippines by reaching two finals.
He managed 5th in the 100m freestyle and 8th in the 50m freestyle.
Meanwhile, in the 15-17 age group three Aspire student-athletes, Ahmed Diab, Ali Nuami and Abdalla Elghamry were part of the 4 x 100m relay team, alongside Tameem Elhamayda, that narrowly missed out on a medal as they finished fourth.
Elhamayda, who trains at Aspire, won Qatar’s other medal at the championships with a bronze in the 50m freestyle for 15 to 17-year-olds.