Nothing is Impossible for Husam Ali

Husam Ali, a 12-year-old Saudi boy, was born semi-paralyzed. It took him a lot of hard work and perseverance to learn how to swim. This year he won two medals in the national swimming competition in Riyadh.
Ali is now practicing to participate in an international swimming championship. He also learned how to use a stationary bike, a treadmill and other machines to make his body fit under the guidance of a physical trainer, with the help of his father.
“I am very happy and satisfied that I am going to appear on TV and in newspapers. It was very difficult to learn, but I continued because I wanted to achieve my ambition of becoming an international swim champion,” he said. “I feel increasingly confident that I will win the championship. I want to achieve something in life,” he added.
Ali Mahar, Ali’s father, taught him how to swim.
“I can’t explain how I did it, as it was impossible for him to swim and exercise, because of his disability. But it was God’s wish that he could swim,” Mahar said.
The father explained they had faced many problems during Ali’s training, because he couldn’t find a proper place for his treatment and training. Absar society is sponsoring Ali in his physical training and helps him to achieve his ambition in life.
“It was very difficult to find a proper place to treat Husam. I took him to Egypt, where the doctors made him capable of swimming. Now he can walk slowly with help,” he added.
In Egypt. Ali worked on his physical treatment and exercise for six hours every day.
“That was very difficult for me. I have too much pain while doing all those exercises and physical training but I must say my father’s encouragement, support and love were there with me, so I made it. Even now I am doing my daily exercise with my trainer, while I’m planning to participate in an international swimming championship. This is my dream,” said Ali. “Nothing is impossible in life if you have confidence in yourself,” he said.
Director of Olympia fitness center Michele Elyas, where Ali now trains, said, “A lot of sports facilities don’t take on disabled children, because they think it’s a big responsibility. If something would happen, they don’t want to be responsible. But gyms should take them as normal children. They are just a bit slower.”
The biggest challenge for Husam was to be able to do things by himself. His father and trainer trained him on a one-on-one basis.”
She further said that another obstacle for Ali was that many gym facilities in the city don’t allow disabled people to bring their own trainers. Olympia physical center of Suleiman Fakeih Hospital opened their doors and allowed Ali to do his training the way he wanted to. This helped him to start his training and progress at a rapid rate.
“He swims very well and use all other exercise instruments in the presence of his instructor. People with special needs need all types of facilities and they should do regular exercise, they just need more time and people around them should give them that time,” said Elyas.
Saudi channel 2 started a program, titled “Nothing impossible”, showing children and people who made the impossible possible.
“It’s our social responsibility to bring disabled Saudi children in the limelight, so disabled people and children and even people who are suffering from any problem will know that nothing is impossible. They just have to try hard and be confident in themselves and their talent and capabilities,” said Ziyad Al-Sufyan, reporter and presenter of Saudi channel 2.
He further said the main aim behind the program is to expose Saudi talent to the world as well as to encourage the youth and people who are like Ali.
“Husam Ali will be the first visitor on our program. We want to show people that people like him can achieve more than normal. If he can achieve his ambition then anybody can do it. It will be a family show. We learn lessons from people like Husam,” said Al-Sufyan.

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