From Injury to Open Water: Mohamed Ayman Takes on Capri-Napoli

Egyptian swimmer Mohamed Ayman recently took on one of open-water swimming's most demanding challenges, completing the 36km Capri-Napoli race in Italy as the only Egyptian among five swimmers competing in the solo category.

At 29, Ayman's journey to the starting line was anything but straightforward. He began swimming at just five years old, but a back injury eventually forced him away from competitive swimming. He later returned to the water for his health, with no pressure to compete or chase podium finishes.

"By chance, I discovered my love for endurance sports, which brought me back to swimming, specifically long-distance swimming. In 2021, I took part in my first race, the Oceanman 10K, and finished fourth. That's when my real open-water swimming journey began," Mohamed Ayman tells SceneSports.

From there, Ayman's calendar filled up with increasingly demanding challenges, including the Bosphorus swim, a 25km race in Dahab, the 20km Lisbon to Cascais swim, Ironman 70.3 and several triathlon competitions. Eventually, he set his sights on Capri-Napoli, a race that would push him into new territory.

"For me, Capri-Napoli was a huge challenge and a big dream," Ayman explains. "It's one of the toughest open-water races, and I wanted to test myself against it."

Getting to the starting line required serious physical and mental preparation. One of the biggest curveballs came when his coach was unable to travel with him due to travel-related procedures, adding another layer of difficulty to an already demanding experience.

But when fatigue inevitably set in, Ayman never considered calling it quits. "I started swimming as a child, and I wasn't particularly gifted athletically," he says. "But sports taught me patience, discipline and perseverance, and made me believe that we're capable of much more than we imagine."

Having discovered his true passion later in life, Ayman is also keen to remind others that there's no deadline for finding yours.

"I discovered my true passion later in life, which is why I believe it's never too late to discover what you love. Sports aren't just about championships. Simply starting, giving it a try and taking care of your health is an achievement in itself."

With Capri-Napoli now part of his journey, Ayman is already looking towards the next stretch of open water. His ambitions include crossing all seven seas and taking on the English Channel, with each challenge bringing him closer to the limits he hopes to push.

For Ayman, there's no age limit on chasing a passion, and every big dream starts with a first step. His next swim could be another milestone in an Egyptian open-water swimming story that's still unfolding.