Cairo: Jasour – News Desk
Champion swimmer Lubna Mustafa, one of the distinguished swimmers with special needs and nicknamed the “Golden Fish,” stated that she is committed to training in swimming daily from 5 AM, despite the current cold weather.
In an interview with Dr. Fahmy Bahgat on the “Al-Mahawir” program broadcast on “Al-Shams” TV, Mustafa mentioned that she earned the title of Sports Ambassador due to her many championships in swimming. She emphasized her commitment to continuing her university studies to achieve all her dreams, both in sports and academics.
She sent a message to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, saying, “Mr. President, I hope you will present my mother with an award to honor her for her support throughout the past period.”
Lubna was born in 1993, and her mother discovered two weeks later that she had Down syndrome. Initially shocked, her mother quickly overcame it and began reading about this group, as she previously had no information. This led her to pursue postgraduate studies and prepare a diploma in speech therapy, making her capable and qualified to embark on life’s journey with her daughter, unaware that she was a few steps away from becoming a champion of Egypt, the Arab world, the Middle East, North Africa, and the world in swimming for persons with special needs.
Safaa Mustafa, Lubna’s mother, recounted in a press interview that luck was on their side. Due to the pneumonia that often accompanied Lubna in winter due to her weakened immunity, a doctor advised training in swimming as it expands the lungs. By her third year, she started intensive training, and her coach found her skilled in swimming, prompting her mother to seek regional and international competitions for her participation.
Despite the difficulties and harassment she faced initially, Mustafa, with iron willpower, won her first gold medal at the age of seven by participating in a local championship. She then mastered and fell in love with swimming, leading her to win the first place nationwide and earn two gold medals at the age of twelve.
She was later selected to join the team representing Egypt in the regional championship in Dubai, winning three gold medals and being the youngest participant in that competition. She returned to Egypt to continue her local championships, prominently becoming the national champion and Egypt Cup champion since 2000 until now.
Her achievements continued as she became part of the Egyptian team participating in the 2007 World Championship in Shanghai, China, where she won a gold, silver, and bronze medal. She was nicknamed the “Golden Fish” for being the first girl in the Egyptian delegation to win a gold medal.
She participated in the regional championship held in Abu Dhabi in 2008, winning four gold medals, and in the regional championship held in Syria, winning three medals: gold, silver, and bronze. Additionally, she participated in the regional championship inaugurated by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in 2014, winning two gold medals and one silver.
