Kuwaiti diver Faisal Al Mosawi has set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the fastest wheelchair-using scuba diver at a recent event at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
Al Mosawi, who lost the use of his legs at the age of 20 in a car accident, took four months to prepare for the record-breaking attempt, finishing with a time of 37 minutes over the 400m distance while strapped into a wheelchair.
The new world record is the third set by Mr Al Mosawi, who, in 2018, broke the world record for fastest scuba diver over a distance of 10km. His time of 5 hours and 24 minutes was 57 minutes faster than the previous record holder – who was an able-bodied diver.
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He also holds the current world record for the fastest time to swim 1km in open water for swimmers who do not have the use of their legs, setting a time of 52 minutes, 31 seconds in the Maldives in March 2022.
‘Today’s achievement is a testament to the power of perseverance and the limitless potential of the human spirit,’ said Mr Al Mosawi. ‘I am immensely proud, once again, to demonstrate the capabilities of adaptive sports.
‘This record is not just mine,’ he added; ‘it belongs to every individual who refuses to be defined by limitations.’
Follow Faisal Al Mosawi and his continuing advocacy for adaptive diving on Instagram @alm0sawii
