One-Legged Egyptian Man Breaks Two World Records for Swimming

Omar Hegazy, a 31-year old Egyptian man who lost one of his legs in a motorcycle accident, just proved he can hold his breath better than nearly everyone in the world. The man just broke not one but TWO Guinness World Records for swimming underwater with a single breath! Hegazy swam 185 feet and 4 inches without a fin, and then swam 251 feet and 7.6 inches using a fin. Both records fall under the 'LA1 category', which recognises feats by people who underwent unilateral amputation above the knee.

After getting his left leg amputated at 25 years old, Hegazy experienced a period of depression until he read about other amputees who broke Guinness World Records in 2021. Using swimming as a way to empower himself, Hegazy now hopes that his Guinness World Record titles can inspire others to overcome their own obstacles.