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Marwan El Kamash Needs Surgery After Dislocating Shoulder During Olympic 800 Freestyle

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Marwan el Kamash‘s third appearance at the Olympics will be short-lived after the Egyptian native reaggravated an injury during the preliminaries of the men’s 800 freestyle on Monday morning.

el Kamash dealt with a shoulder injury from October 2023 until this past February, resulting in him missing the 2024 World Championships in Doha.

A source told SwimSwam that el Kamash’s shoulder was “bugging him” prior to the 800 free heats in Paris, and upon diving in, he immediately dislocated his shoulder and swam the race in immense pain.

The 30-year-old grinded out the event, placing 27th overall in a time of 8:07.00, more than 20 seconds slower than the Egyptian Record of 7:46.55 he set en route to placing 10th at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka.

el Kamash posted on his Instagram story that he was visiting Doctor Claudio Rosso, a shoulder specialist who is serving as an orthopedic surgeon at the Olympic Village. el Kamash will get surgery done immediately, the source added.

Prior to the injury, el Kamash was also entered to swim the 1500 free, seeded 18th seed. At the 2023 World Championships, he finished 9th in a personal best time of 14:55.19.

A former Indiana Hoosier, el Kamash currently trains out of The Swim Team (TST) in California.

After missing the 2024 Worlds, he returned to competition in March, sweeping the 200, 400, 800 and 1500 free at the All-Africa Games in March. His fastest times in 2024 coming into the Olympics were 7:56.44 in the 800 free and 15:10.86 in the 1500 free, both set at the Fran Crippen Memorial Meet in April.

el Kamash first represented Egypt at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, placing 16th in the 400 free and 24th in the 200 free, and then three years ago in Tokyo, he was 14th in the 400 free and 16th in the 800 free.

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Coach
3 months ago

He is a true champ! Not anyone in the world can finish the race while being in such a pain!

Praying for a speedy recovery!

chickenlamp
3 months ago

I can’t even imagine swimming through an 800 like that. Tough dude.

Also, TST guys dropping like flies this season. El-Kamash’s shoulder, Brinegar suspended, whatever’s going on with Hafnaoui, Johnston with COVID, and Shubert being replaced with the Joe Rogan of swimming

Last edited 3 months ago by chickenlamp
MTK
3 months ago

Pretty beastly to be able go out there and hold 1:00-1:01 per 100 in that kind of immense pain.

SHRKB8
3 months ago

Oh this is tough in every aspect. Hats off just for finishing, my heart goes out to him after all his hard work to have it undone at this moment 😢.
Recover stronger than before.

Andrew
3 months ago

Swimming an 800 free is crazy enough, but an 800 free dislocating your shoulder (on the start no less) is an incredible athletic achievement

Steve Nolan
3 months ago

Was gonna say that would be a good reason to just hop out of the pool, but with a janked shoulder he was prolly gonna have to get out at the side anyway

cow from china
3 months ago

Wow, he has some guts to finish the race after that

Lpman
3 months ago

The dude has heart

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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