Nestled at the top of the Arabian Gulf in Western Asia is the Elite Swim Team Kuwait. It’s one of the top clubs in the region, with over 2,500 swimmers from more than 20 nationalities swimming at 9 aquatic facilities!
Last year, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Fares had the opportunity to visit the beautiful country of Kuwait and go for a swim with some of the Elite team’s awesome athletes.
Exploring Kuwait
If you’re not familiar, Kuwait is a small country of just over 4 million people nestled at the northern part of the Arabian Gulf. While most people think of the Middle East as a mostly desert region, a majority of the population actually lives near the coast.
Before heading over to his first workout with the Elite Swim Team, Fares went for a dip in the sea at Marina Beach in Kuwait City. The water was pretty chilly and he didn’t last very long, but the views of the city skyline were epic!
Swimming with Elite Swim Team Kuwait
Since 2005, Elite Swim Team Kuwait has offered a wide range of aquatic programs, including learn to swim, competitive and Masters. The club hosts swim clinics, meets and other aquatic events year-round. Fares joined one of the groups for their daily workout!
Before every workout, the team does group stretches and the coaches share the workout for the day. Lucky for Fares, it was recovery day! He hopped in the long course pool and swam 30x100s with the team.
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One thing Fares noticed immediately is just how international the team is. Although the workouts and team are run in English, many swimmers speak several languages.
This is due, in part, to the fact that Kuwait is part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
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These countries have a population of over 65 million people, and sports are quickly becoming a core part of the culture — including swimming! Swimmers often travel to neighboring countries in the GCC and throughout Europe to race!
Fares had a blast checking out Elite Swim Team and can’t wait to see what the team and its athletes get up to in the future. For more awesome swimming inspiration and stories, subscribe to our YouTube channel!