Somali Swimming Sensation: Mustafa Hashim puts Somalia on the World Stage
In a nation long defined by the challenges of civil war and displacement, a new generation is writing a different narrative—one of resilience, ambition, and athletic triumph.
Following in the footsteps of pioneering boxer Ramla Ali, a young swimmer named Mustafa Hashim is making his own history, becoming the first swimmer to represent Somalia at a World Aquatics Championships.
Somalia has the longest coastline in mainland Africa, boasting pristine beaches and extensive water bodies. The country is also blessed with the potential for a blue economy. The emergence of a swimming sensation like Mustafa Hashim is expected to boost the country’s image in relation to aquatic sports.
Despite being born and raised in London, the 15-year-old Hashim began his journey in the water at age nine. His training ground is a place of champions—the London 2012 Olympic swimming pool.
The civil war that erupted in 1991 scattered Hashim’s family across the globe, where his parents met. He is part of a generation of Somali children born when the country was just recovering from the civil war, to stand on its feet.
Driven by a dream to represent his heritage, Hashim voluntarily contacted the Somali Swimming Federation, unsure if he would be granted the opportunity, but was given permission two months before the competition.
Representing Somalia, he participated in two events at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. He ranked 72nd in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke with a time of 1:16.69. He also competed in the Men’s 50 Freestyle, finishing with a time of 31.73, and the Men’s 100m Freestyle, where his rank was 104th with a time of 1:05.01. Prior to that, at the AP Race London International in May 2025, he ranked 62nd in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke with a time of 1:14.79.
Beyond the personal achievement, Hashim views his participation as a catalyst for change. He believes his story can inspire athletes from underrepresented nations and help Somalia secure funding to build its own swimming facilities. “I hope that now the focus will be on Somali youth to start swimming,” he said.
Hashim’s vision extends far into the future. “I hope that at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, I will be able to compete against older athletes,” he shared, adding his ambitions to reach the semi-finals of the 2027 Budapest 100m Breaststroke and “make an impression at the 2026 Beijing Games”. For Mustafa Hashim, a big dream is not just good—it is the very heart of a nation’s hopeful resurgence.