Egyptian swimmer Omar Sayed Shaaban, 21, who has broken the record for the highest out-of-water jump while wearing a monofin, arrives for a training session at Cairo Stadium Swimming Pools, Egypt. Reuters

Like a fish (jumping) out of water: Egyptian record breaker shows how it's done



Athletes are constantly trying to reach new heights - some of them literally.

Take a look at Egypt's Omar Sayed Shaaban, who recently entered the Guinness World Records for the highest out-of-water jump while wearing a monofin, reaching a remarkable 2.30 metres.

The 21-year-old, who trains at Cairo Stadium Swimming Pools, broke a record that had stood for nine years.

The civil engineering student took the record from Soliman Sayed, who is not only a fellow Egyptian, but comes from Ismailia, the same city as Shabaan.

Shabaan is also regarded as one of the world’s fastest sprinters underwater.

He trains three times a day, two of them in water, with a gym session in-between, and can cross 50 metres underwater on one breath in only 15.6 seconds, and 100 metres in 35.5 seconds while wearing a snorkel, according to Guinness World Records.

______________

More from The National:

Nowruz celebrations in Kurdish region of Iraq - in pictures

Falconry in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra desert - in pictures

From Samarra to Basra, daily life of Iraqis - in pictures

Hut-hut-hut! Sudanese camel racing at sunset - in pictures

Australia floods: more evacuations ordered as Sydney dam overflows

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding

Middle East Today

The must read newsletter for the region

      By signing up, I agree to The National's privacy policy
      Middle East Today