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Old rowers defy boredom

You see a small boat from Al-Galaa Bridge. At first glance, they appear to be strong young men rowing, but if you look closer, you will see wrinkled hands.

After finishing his work in the operating room, 80-year-old plastic surgeon Ahmed Aboul Seoud goes to the Egyptian Rowing Club. He became involved the sport in 1950 and traveled abroad to participate in many races. He still practices rowing every week. “I learned rowing at Fouad I University, which is now Cairo University,” he said. 

Dr. Aboul Seoud often donates money to the club. “They wrote my name on the boat as a thank you note,” he said.

Participating in sports at an old age might be unfamiliar to Egyptian culture, but 67-year-old Engineer Abdel Samie is encouraged by his family. “My wife rows on the simulator to share the experience with me,” he says.

The children of Mohi Eddin al-Sheikh, a businessman who lived in Germany for 30 years, encouraged him to continue. “I've won several races,” he says. “The German papers called me the Egyptian Crocodile.”

Ayman Farid Abu Hadid, the former minister of agriculture, is 64 years old. “Sports are essential for old people,” he says.

Engineer Ayman Wanas is 52 years old. He played karate, squash and tennis when he was young. “I picked up rowing six months ago to kill boredom,” he says.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

 

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