Mohammed Abbas (swimmer) explained

Mohammed Abbas
Fullname:Mohammed Abbas Sabih
National Team:Iraq
Strokes:Freestyle
Birth Date:28 February 1978
Birth Place:Baghdad, Iraq
Height:1.70NaN0
Weight:700NaN0
Show-Medals:yes

Mohammed Abbas Sabih (Arabic: محمد عباس صبيح; born February 28, 1978) is a former Iraqi swimmer, who specialized in sprint freestyle events.[1] He is considered one of Iraq's most promising swimmers, having competed at the Olympics under Saddam Hussein's dictatorship. As part of his preparations, he was trained for the University of British Columbia Dolphins Swim Club in Canada.[2]

Abba qualified for the men's 100 m freestyle at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, by receiving a Universality place from FINA, in an entry time of 58.24.[3] Abbas failed to advance into the semifinals, as he placed sixty-third overall out of 71 swimmers in the preliminaries.[4] [5]

During the Olympics, Abbas also admitted that he shared friendships with Canada's Mike Mintenko, ever since he trained for the UBC Dolphins. He told him stories of how Iraqi athletes trained inside the basement of a sports centre, as a resemblance of a "17-cell prison", and how they were tortured by Uday Hussein for not performing well.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Mohammed Abbas. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418110824/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ab/mohammed-abbas-1.html. dead. 18 April 2020. 7 May 2013.
  2. News: Golden girl: Coventry gives Zimbabwe its first individual medal. https://archive.today/20130628044846/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Athletics/Games/2004/Swimming/2004/08/19/pf-590988.html. usurped. June 28, 2013. Calgary Sun. Canoe.ca. 19 August 2004. 7 May 2013.
  3. Web site: Swimming – Men's 100m Freestyle Startlist (Heat 1). PDF. Athens 2004. Omega Timing. 23 April 2013.
  4. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Heat 1. Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 18 August 2004. 31 January 2013.
  5. News: Thomas. Stephen. Men's 100 Freestyle Prelims Day 4: Lezak, Crocker Fail to Qualify. Hoogie Best with 48.70. Swimming World Magazine. 17 August 2004. 19 April 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070403104714/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7852.asp. 3 April 2007.