Windsurfing, a sport that is not that common or popular in Egypt. Practicing since he was 13 years old, Ahmed Habash made it all the way to the Olympics and made millions of Egyptians proud. I am one of them and I’m even more proud to have interviewed him.
God bless the passion and the spirit of this man, who lost hope in competing 5 years ago, broke his hand, tore ankle ligaments and gained weight at a certain phase. That made Habash stronger as he decided to get back to business in March 2012, losing almost 14 kilos in one month and going all the way to Miami to join one of the biggest competitions there and then coming back to Egypt winning 1st place in the National Championship which qualified him to the “worlds”, which eventually qualified him to the Olympics for the first time in the history of Windsurfing in Egypt. Can your jaw drop further?!
Well Habash was one of the most exciting people I have ever interviewed and told us more about him, family, journey and the story of the Olympics.
1) Give us a scoop on the most dangerous situation that you’ve been put in while practicing.
I was once training in Hurghada and the wind was really strong, at that time I was not in good control yet my sail started to crack and I had to de-rig it. I folded the sail and removed all the accessories, but I slipped off the board. Whenever I tried to swim back to the board, I found the sail sinking. They were both so important to me, so I didn’t want to lose any of them.
After some time I got really exhausted and could not keep holding on both the sail and the board. I had to let go of the sail, because the board is the floatation device and I can sit on it and row back home. I never was able to row back, because the wind was blowing off shore ( from the beach side throwing me further inside). I kept drifting deep and couldn’t row back, I felt I was dying and there is no way I will get back to the beach. An hour later a small boat came asking me if I needed rescue and brought me back home.
2) The feeling that you enjoy the most while surfing is…
While windsurfing on a sunny and windy weekend after a stressed week at work and that simply makes me feel in heaven!
3) Did you ever give up anything for the sake of Windsurfing?
I gave up a lot of things for the sake of windsurfing, My summer vacations, a lot of weekends for the sake of competitions and training, time with my family ( before and after marriage) and my annual vacation at work.
4) Tell us one of the funny comments you get when you tell Egyptians the sport you play.
You want to know the funniest? OK when someone asks me about my sport, I reply ” windsurfing” or ” Sailing” and reply back ” Ahhh Rowing” and they do that motion with their arms.
My french teacher at school used to make fun of me Because of my sport.
5) Tell us how does your family feel especially your son, knowing that you are participating in the Olympics this year?
My little boy is only 2 years old, so he doesn’t really know what’s going on, I wish he did.
My mother and father are so proud of me and they are so happy as well. They supported me a lot when I was younger and even now they are giving me all the support I need. My brother was never excited for me like he is now, he is sharing my pictures on Facebook and writing some nice comments about me and I am really happy about that. He also assisted me during my trip to Miami last January.
My wife Mae El Ghazali, she has been pushing me all the time to train and helped me not to lose hope when everyone else asked me to quit and now she is so proud of me and happy I am where I am, she was always there for me. She came to visit me during my training camp here in the UK to give me some support.
Lastly my friends are also so proud of me and happy for me and that is pushing me more to do my best here.
6) What’s your biggest fear?
My biggest fear at the moment is not to be able to make all who are supporting me happy with my results or not to be up to the Olympic level here, I know it is my first participation and the guys here are very well trained and have been training for years, but the fact that everyone is cheering for me is putting me under so much stress.
7) You made it to the Olympics! Did you ever expect that? What goals are you aiming for now?
I never expected to make it to the Olympics. The goal I am aiming for is to train harder for the coming Olympics in 2016 in Rio, if windsurfing stays an Olympic sport.
WE SAID THIS: Talented, determined and ambitious, Habash is one of those many Egyptians who deserve the recognition and the support of all Egyptians. Let us at least tell you that we here in Scoop have got your back! Wishing you the best of luck in the Olympics this year, we’re proud already.
