Swimmer lives his dream in Paralympics

Published Sep 5, 2008

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By Ziyanda Sidumo

Cape Town swimmer Achmat Hassiem, 26, has been allowed a break from fasting this week so that he can perform at his best at the Paralympics in Beijing, which starts on Saturday.

Hassiem, the victim of a shark attack that left him without his lower right leg, will be participating in the 100m freestyle, 400m freestyle and the 100m butterfly events.

Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims, started on Monday. During this period, Muslims have to abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. But with the physical strain of participating in the Paralympics, Hassiem will postpone his fasting.

The swimmer comes from a deeply religious family and his proud mother, Thoraiya Hassiem, said they had discussed the fasting as a family.

"As a family, we decided to release him from the fasting because he needs all the energy he can get so he can do well in the swimming," the athlete's mother said.

She said she was very proud of her son and that she missed him a lot. "I call him every day, even though it costs a lot."

Hassiem started swimming nine years ago while in high school, when a friend asked him to join a swimming team.

But in 2006, he was attacked by a shark while trying to save his brother with whom he was swimming and his right leg had to be amputated.

But the ever-positive Hassiem did not lose hope. Just a few weeks after being in hospital he was swimming again and in a few months, he made the Western Cape provincial team.

Hassiem has dreamt of taking part in the Paralympics since the shark attack. Now he is living his dream.

"As long as he does well, that is what I hope for," his mother said.

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