Abu Dhabi, UAE – The 30th Gulf Swimming Championships kicked off today, Thursday, at the Olympic pool in the Mohammed bin Zayed Sports City Center in Abu Dhabi.
Nearly 200 swimmers representing six Gulf countries are participating in the event,
which is jointly organized by the UAE Water Sports Federation, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and the Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club.
The championships will continue until next Sunday.
The first day of competition saw a remarkable Emirati performance,
with the UAE national team topping the medal table in both the men’s
and women’s categories, securing 20 medals: 12 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze.
This strong start reflects the development of Emirati swimming and the team’s excellent preparation for the championships.
The winners of the opening day’s competitions were crowned in the presence of a number of senior sports officials, led by Dr. Hussein Al-Musallam, President of the International Water Sports Federation,
and His Excellency Abdullah Al-Wahibi, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the UAE Water Sports Federation, along with representatives of the National Olympic Committee
and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and a number of heads of sports federations and clubs.
In the overall standings, Kuwait finished second with a total of 27 medals: 11 gold, 10 silver,
and 6 bronze. Saudi Arabia followed in third place with 20 medals: 5 gold, 10 silver, and 5 bronze.
Bahrain came in fourth with eight medals, Qatar fifth with nine, and Oman sixth with four.
The Gulf Swimming Championship is considered one of the most prominent regional tournaments,
serving as an important platform for discovering talent, honing skills,
and fostering athletic competition among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
This contributes to raising the technical level of swimmers in preparation for upcoming continental and international competitions.
