Dominating The Pool: AUC Swimmers Shine at The 2024 FASU Games

Mahbubat Salahudeen

Since its inception in Ghana in 1974, the All-African University Games (FASU Games) have served as a platform for uniting Africa’s finest university athletes, inspiring the next generation of sportsmen and women from across the continent. The 11th edition of the games, held between September 20th and 29th, 2024, marked a significant milestone as Nigeria hosted the tournament for the first time in two separate locations – the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Lagos State University (LASU). With 15 medal events and over 1,000 athletes from 35 countries, the FASU Games have cemented their place as Africa’s premier multi-sport event for student athletes.

The 2024 edition was particularly memorable for the American University in Cairo (AUC) who  won the highest number of medals during the 2024 FASU games, with the majority being won by the swimming team. Athletes representing the AUC amassed an impressive number of 81 medals; 46 gold – 39 of them being won by AUC swimmers – including 27 silvers, and 8 bronze. The AUC 28-men team secured medals in Judo, Karate, Tennis, Taekwondo, Table tennis, Chess, and Swimming, and just like they did in Nairobi, two years ago, AUC once again dominated the pool in Lagos.

AUC SWIMMERS LEAD THE CHARGE

While swimming at the 2024 FASU Games concluded on Sunday, among the standout performers were 21-year-old Kenzy Sherif and 22-year-old Zaid Ahmed, whose combined efforts contributed significantly to AUC’s record-breaking medal haul. Both athletes competed in their second FASU Games, having also participated in the 2022 edition in Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenzy, who began her swimming career at 17, competed in the 50m butterfly and two relay events in Lagos, winning gold and silver medals. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasized the importance of team spirit:

“Here in the swimming team at AUC – my teammates and our coach – there is a spirit that coexists between us. That connection binds us together every time, and it has been my biggest motivation coming into this tournament,” she shared.

For Kenzy, the FASU Games are another milestone in a career that has seen her represent AUC at various national and international competitions, including the 49th National University Tournament in Egypt in 2021.

Zaid, on the other hand, had a transformative experience in Lagos. Competing in four races on the final day alone, he secured a silver medal in the 200m butterfly and a gold in the 100m freestyle earlier in the week. “The competition was only in four days, and every day I had a minimum of two races, sometimes more. Like today, I had four races, three individual races and one relay,” He noted.

Despite coming to Lagos during a difficult phase in his life and career and in spite of the demanding schedule, Zaid viewed the tournament as an opportunity to reassess his passion for the sport: “I have been facing some challenges which made me consider quitting swimming for a while. I wasn’t feeling so passionate or happy swimming back home, but competing in this game reignited that passion for me,” he said.

Zaid’s rigorous routine reflects the demands of balancing academics and athletics. As an Integrated Marketing Communication student at AUC, he starts his day at 4:30 a.m., attending morning practice before heading to classes that stretch into the afternoon. After lunch, it’s back to training in the evening—a schedule that leaves little time for rest but underscores his commitment to excellence.

For student athletes, pursuits of academic excellence and athletic development is often characterized with unyielding demands which requires a unique blend of commitment, adequate training, and time management. Between practice, games, competitions, and academics, it can be difficult to find time for everything, which further crystallizes the importance of creating an effective schedule that accommodates, both education and profession

BEHIND THE SUCCESS: COACH SHEHAB YOUNIS

The driving force behind AUC’s swimming dominance is head coach Shehab Younis, a former swimmer and 2012 Olympic gold medalist. Since taking the helm two years ago, Shehab has transformed the team into a continental powerhouse.

Shehab joined AUC two years ago leading them to their first All-African University Games in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022, winning 22 gold medals in swimming for a total of 68 medals: 29 gold, 22 silvers, and 18 bronze, to win first place, contributing to Egypt’s top position in the country’s medal standing.

For Shehab, mental preparation is as critical as physical training for young athletes, especially student athletes. “Mental awareness and mental preparation for young swimmers are so hard,” He said. “While it is easier to train swimmers and make them prepare physically, to get them to be mentally ready, is hard, and we do so by setting some targets and goals to achieve. That way they become more focused, and mentally alert.”

At the Lagos tournament, Shehab’s team surpassed even their own ambitious targets. “There are forty-two medal categories in swimming, and our target was to win more than thirty-five golds. We ended up with thirty-nine,” he proudly noted.

LOOKING AHEAD

With the FASU Games having come to a close, the AUC swimming team is already gearing up for their next challenge—the World Inter-Universities Championship in Rome, Italy, next month. The team, which has expanded its roster with the addition of eight new swimmers since Nairobi, is determined to continue their streak of success on the international stage. “We are putting our focus on that tournament now,” Shehab remarked.

For athletes like Kenzy and Zaid, the journey in Lagos was not just about medals; it was a reminder of the resilience, camaraderie, and passion that define their careers. As Zaid put it:

“This competition was a huge challenge to know where I stand in my program, and it has reignited my drive to compete at a professional level.”

The 2024 FASU Games underscored the American University in Cairo’s commitment to nurturing Africa’s next generation of sports stars. With their remarkable performance in Lagos, the AUC swimming team not only added to their legacy but they also served as an inspiration for many young athletes across the African continent.