UAE swimmer Hussain Shawqi made history at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain. The UAE swimmer Hussain Shawqi won the gold medal in the 50m butterfly with a record-breaking time of 24.73 seconds — the fastest in the history of the Games. His performance highlighted the growing strength of UAE swimming on the regional stage.
He finished 0.24 seconds ahead of Hong Kong’s Lau Kin James, who secured silver with 24.97 seconds. Wu Chao-Si from Chinese Taipei claimed the bronze, finishing third in 25.05 seconds. The UAE swimmer Hussain Shawqi competed in three finals within 24 hours, showing endurance and focus. Earlier, he qualified for the 50m butterfly final with a time of 25.16 seconds and had already earned a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle.
With this achievement, the UAE’s total medal count rose to 19 — 8 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze — placing the country sixth overall and first among Arab nations. China leads with 98 medals, followed by Uzbekistan and Thailand.
Hussain Shawqi credited his success to discipline, hard training, and teamwork. He thanked the Ministry of Sports, the UAE National Olympic Committee, and the UAE Aquatic Sports Federation for their support. He also praised the guidance of Emirati coach Marwan Al Hattawi, who led the national team’s preparation for the Games.
Coach Al Hattawi expressed pride in Shawqi’s achievement and said the result reflects strong preparation and determination. The victory marks a proud milestone for UAE sports and sets the stage for greater success ahead.
