Cold
Many hours in open water without a wetsuit, under Channel rules.
Endurance swimming · English Channel
There and back.
An unfinished record — now becoming a mission.
After conquering the English Channel in 2014, Ahmed Nasef is preparing to return to one of the world's most demanding open-water challenges — twelve years later.
Announced target · Preparation under way
The athlete in the water
Hours in open water, not a view of the sea
The mission is measured in unbroken hours of swimming. The image below is archive material from the documented 2014 English Channel crossing.
Archive · 2014Hero swim image pending
A newly approved photograph of Ahmed swimming in blue open water will replace this block once the project team supplies it. No generic sea photograph is used in its place.
The preparation system
The team building the attempt
Behind every hour in the water is a system of training, experience, planning, and safety. Meet the people supporting Ahmed on the way to a two-way English Channel crossing.
Ahmed Nasef
The athlete of the mission
Read profile
Captain Nabil El Shazly
Technical mentor
Read profile
Captain Sameh Nabil El Shazly
Institutional leadership
Read profile
Captain Osama El Shazly
Training and historical technical preparation
Read profile- Portrait pending approval
Captain Khaled Shalaby
Pilot and crossing operations
Read profile
Swipe to see the whole team
Documented achievement
The Record
All figures below are taken from the official Channel Swimming Association certificate supplied by the project team.
2014
First English Channel crossing documented in the supplied official certificate.
18h 48m
Officially documented crossing time.
England → France → England
The target route of the announced attempt.
Historic attempt
Pending completion and official ratification.
How the attempt is built
A world-level achievement is not built in the water alone
Behind Ahmed is a preparation system combining Channel expertise, specialist training, institutional coordination, maritime safety, documentation, and medical and logistics support. Sponsorship does not simply fund a swim; it enables an organized team to turn an exceptional attempt into an executable and ratifiable project.
- 01
Assessment
Physical, medical and technical evaluation of the athlete against the demands of a two-way crossing.
Read more - 02
Training
A structured programme built by coaches with long open-water and Channel experience.
Read more - 03
Open-water preparation
Progressive long-duration sea sessions in cold water, tides and darkness.
Read more - 04
Maritime safety and logistics
Pilot boat, crew, medical cover, feeding plan, travel and accommodation.
Read more - 05
Attempt, documentation and ratification
The attempt under association rules, with observation, documentation and official ratification.
Read more
The mission
The unprecedented mission
The mission is undertaken with the aim of becoming the first double-leg amputee swimmer to complete a two-way English Channel crossing, subject to official observation and ratification.
Announced target · Preparation under way
England → France → England — a two-way English Channel crossing.
- 01
Outbound — England to France
The same direction Ahmed swam in 2014, when he reached France in 18 hours and 48 minutes.
- 02
The turn
A two-way crossing has no rest on land. The swimmer touches French shore and turns straight back into the water.
- 03
Return — France to England
The second leg, swum on a body already beyond a full crossing. This is the part that has never been completed by a double-leg amputee swimmer.
What the mission demands
Tides
Two tidal windows instead of one, with no margin for a slow first leg.
Night
Swimming in darkness, guided only by the support boat.
Endurance
A continuous effort, with no rest on land between the two legs.
The two-way crossing is an announced objective. It has not taken place. Any record standing would be subject to observation and ratification by the certifying body.
Story film
The Story of Ahmed Nasef
From a life-changing accident to the English Channel — and now, the journey back.
Audio: ArabicMultilingual subtitles are planned and will be added here when available.
The journey
The accident changed his life.It did not end his dream.
A train accident changed Ahmed Nasef's life forever. He lost both legs.
What followed was not surrender, but a decision to rebuild.
Through determination, training and an extraordinary commitment to endurance, Ahmed eventually faced one of the world's most demanding open-water challenges. In 2014, he crossed the English Channel from England to France.
Now, twelve years later, he is preparing to return.
One line, one life
From a life-changing accident to a new challenge
- 01Life
- 02The accident
- 03Loss of both legs
- 04Rebuilding
- 05Training
- 062014 English Channel crossing
- 07Twelve years
- 08The return
- 09A new challenge
The project
An athlete returning to unfinished water
Ahmed Nasef is an Egyptian endurance swimmer and double-leg amputee athlete. In 2014 he swam the English Channel from England to France. He is now training for a second crossing attempt, and the preparation is being documented as it happens.
The Athlete
An endurance career built on discipline, open-water experience and competition.
Read moreThe First Crossing
England to France, 20 July 2014 — documented by official certification.
Read moreThe Return
Preparing for a second English Channel crossing attempt, twelve years later.
Read moreThe Documentary
A feature documentary project in development around the return.
Read moreFor partners
Built for international sponsors
The return to the English Channel offers brands a chance to be part of a documented international endurance story — across the training journey, the attempt itself and the film that follows it.
The next chapter has begun.
Follow Ahmed's journey back to the English Channel.