Egyptian finswimming has climbed to the summit of the world twice over. In an exclusive interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, Sameh Al-Shazli, president of the Egyptian Diving and Lifesaving Federation, confirmed that Egypt captured both the FISU Finswimming World University Championship and the World Open Water Finswimming Championship, both hosted in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The double triumph, achieved before home crowds on the Red Sea coast, crowned a total of 48 medals across the two competitions and five new world university records. For a nation that measures its achievements by the standards of its ancient civilization, these results are another sign that Egypt's youth, when given the means, compete with anyone on earth.
19 medals and five world university records
Al-Shazli told Al-Ahram Weekly's Abeer Anwar that the university championship alone yielded 19 medals: seven gold, nine silver, and three bronze, alongside five new world university records. Nineteen nations took part in the competition.
'These results highlight the exceptional technical level reached by Egyptian swimmers,' he said, noting that topping the overall standings went beyond the medal count itself.
The five world records, in his view, demonstrate continuous improvement and the athletes' capacity to raise their personal and world-class times. He also stressed that medals came in both the men's and women's events, evidence of a balanced technical structure and a deep pool of talent within the national squad.
A team built to last, not a single star
Champions such as Tarek Hassan, Mahmoud Walid, Mohab Ehab, and Nada Magdi have given Egyptian finswimming a generation of leaders rather than one isolated name. Al-Shazli was explicit about the philosophy behind this depth.
'The current strategy moves away from relying on a single star athlete; instead, the focus is on building a complete, sustainable national team with strong depth across all distances and events,' he said.
The goal, he affirmed, is nothing less than keeping Egypt among the world's elite finswimming powers. That ambition rests on the 'relentless hard work and continuous efforts' of the federation, the technical staff, and the athletes themselves.
Open water dominance against 264 athletes
At the World Open Water Finswimming Championship, Egypt claimed the overall title with 29 medals: 10 gold, 11 silver, and eight bronze. The field was serious, with 264 athletes representing 16 countries, and Egypt finished ahead of established international powerhouses.
Al-Shazli described the result as exceptional. Topping the global table, he said, confirmed the technical readiness and adaptability of Egyptian swimmers under varied open-water conditions, an environment that punishes any weakness in preparation.
Medals came in both senior and youth categories, which the federation president read as validation of the technical roadmap his institution set: early youth development to guarantee a sustainable pipeline of champions feeding the senior national team.
The podium Egypt will remember
One image from Sharm El-Sheikh will endure in Egyptian sporting memory. In the men's 5 km mono event, Egypt took gold, silver, and bronze, sweeping the entire podium.
'Watching three Egyptian champions stand together on the podium and raise the national flag at a world championship on home soil carries immense athletic and emotional value,' Al-Shazli said.
He called the sweep more than an addition to the medal tally: an unmistakable declaration of Egyptian dominance, made sweeter by being shared with home fans.
Egypt also took gold in the mixed 4x1 km relay, an event Al-Shazli said demands harmony, strategic pacing, and coordination among team members. The relay victory, he argued, proved that Egyptian finswimming excels not only as individual performers but in events requiring complete team integration.
Winning at home, planning for the world
Al-Shazli acknowledged that competing on Egyptian soil gave the team extra motivation. But he paired celebration with warning: the victories 'underscored the critical importance of continuous investment in athlete preparation for upcoming international events.'
He also defended the format that brought senior and youth categories together in one world championship. The dual-tier structure, he said, lets technical staff track the physical and technical evolution of juniors early, tailor their training programmes, and expose them to high-pressure international competition before they reach full maturity.
'Investing in youth remains the cornerstone of building resilient national teams capable of maintaining global dominance for years to come,' he added.
What comes next for Egyptian finswimming?
How many medals did Egypt win at the 2026 championships in Sharm El-Sheikh?
Egypt won 19 medals at the FISU Finswimming World University Championship and 29 medals at the World Open Water Finswimming Championship, for a combined total of 48, according to figures given by federation president Sameh Al-Shazli to Al-Ahram Weekly.
Which world records did Egyptian swimmers set?
Egyptian university swimmers set five new world university records during the FISU championship in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Who are the leading Egyptian finswimming champions?
Al-Shazli singled out Tarek Hassan, Mahmoud Walid, Mohab Ehab, and Nada Magdi among the stars who claimed gold medals and broke records at the two championships.