Hussein Shawky touched the wall in the 50m Freestyle final in 22.59 seconds, looked up at the scoreboard, and couldn't find his time. All he could see was the number 1, next to his name, next to the UAE flag. It was the first medal a United Arab Emirates swimmer had ever won at the Asian Age Group Championships.
It capped a five-day meet that also brought silver in the 50m Butterfly — and it came only eight months after Shawky had already made UAE history once, taking gold and bronze at the Asian Youth Games, the first medals of any kind the country had won there. Atlas Poolside sat down with him after the AAG to talk about the race, the people behind it, and where a two-time Asian champion goes next.
Dubai, And A Deepening Connection
Shawky was born and raised in Dubai. Swimming started, as it does for a lot of kids, as a safety requirement rather than a calling. “I started swimming when I was 6 years old — I had originally started swimming for safety and to be able to know how to swim. But as time went on, my connection for the sport grew deeper.”
That connection now carries a flag with it. “It means everything to me to represent the UAE on the international stage, and I'm extremely honoured and proud to both represent and win at the Asian Age Group Championships.”
The AAG gold wasn't even his first piece of national history. Eight months earlier, at the Asian Youth Games, he won gold and bronze — “the first medals in the history of the UAE” at that competition. The AAG title in Bangkok built directly on it: two different continental age-group meets, two sets of firsts, one swimmer.
Ten Years, One Coach
Shawky trains at Hamilton Aquatics in Dubai, under coach Stuart Sant — a partnership that predates almost everything else in his swimming career. “I've been with him for around 10 years. I'm currently doing 8 sessions in the pool and 3 lifts a week.”
Behind the training log, he's clear about who made the schedule possible in the first place. “My parents have played a really big role with my swimming. Early mornings or late nights, they were always there for me with constant support, and I'm immensely grateful and thankful for all the effort they put in.”
The Race
1ST50m Freestyle — 22.59
Shawky remembers the moment behind the blocks in detail. “As I'm standing behind the blocks — I remember this really well — I took a deep breath and smiled to soak it all in and enjoy the moment.”
The race itself went to plan from the first stroke. “As soon as I dove in and did my breakout, I knew that the gold medal was mine. I stuck to my game plan, controlled my stroke rate and kept my stroke relaxed while holding water. As the race went on, I could see myself slowly increasing the gap between myself and the rest of the field.”
What came after the finish is the part he tells slowest. “I touched the wall and looked over at the scoreboard. I couldn't see the time. I could only see 1st place next to my name, next to my nation's flag. My mind kind of blanked out as I was hitting my celebration. It was all a blur and just didn't feel real.”
“As I'm sitting on the lane rope, I'm looking into the crowd and the only face I see was my mother. I snapped back into it, pointed to her and smiled. It felt like all the hard work, effort and countless hours and sacrifices had paid off. Personally, I wouldn't trade the feeling of winning with anything. I was extremely proud of myself, and I remember post-race just thinking of how far I've come — from competing at local meets to becoming two-time Asian champion.”
Beyond The Meet
Outside of the racing, the meet itself left an impression. “My favourite part of the meet outside swimming I would probably say was just being able to meet new people, and it was a great experience for me. The vibes at the meet were great and it was extremely enjoyable.”
What's Next
Shawky is heading into a new chapter — college swimming in the United States. “As I move into a new chapter of my life, studying and swimming at Texas A&M University, my goal is to represent my nation at the highest level possible. Asian Games, World Championships, and of course the 2028 and 2032 Olympics.”
The day-to-day version of that ambition is simpler. “In the pool, my goal always is to always continue developing and growing and just being the best possible version of myself.”
