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Prof. Farid Moharam El-Garhy, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce at Ain Shams University, received in his office the Egyptian world champion Haitham Adel Abdel Shafi Sarhan, a student at the faculty. The reception was attended by a number of faculty members. The reception was in recognition of his unprecedented international sporting achievements and his strong will, which has made him a role model of challenge and determination.

The Dean of the Faculty expressed his deep pride in Haitham, who is a symbol of determination and a true source of inspiration. He emphasized that his achievements represent a model for university youth to emulate in their ability to overcome challenges and achieve success despite difficulties.

Haitham Abdel Shafi is the first wheelchair swimmer in the world to swim across the English Channel from England to France. This world-class achievement, achieved in August 2023, took 12 continuous hours of swimming, thus inscribing his name in gold letters in the history of international sports.

He was also honored by His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the "Able Differently" celebration in recognition of his distinguished sporting career.

The Egyptian champion has achieved many local and international accomplishments, most notably two gold medals in the African Cycling Championship in 2024, first place in the Zayed International Marathon in December 2024, and second place in the Zayed International Marathon in 2022. He also achieved first place in the Republic Triathlon Championship from 2020 to 2022, and first place and a gold medal in the Republic Swimming Championship in 2019. He also competed in the Republic Triathlon Championship in 2019 as a freestyle athlete, winning the gold medal and first place, and the bronze medal in the Egypt Swimming Cup at Cairo Stadium in 2018.

He also won gold medals in four Egyptian Triathlon Championships (Cairo Stadium, Suez Governorate, Ismailia Governorate, and Suez Governorate for the second time). He also won the Egyptian Swimming Cup, achieving three places in the same championship: second place and a silver medal in the 100m freestyle, third place and a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle, and third place and a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle.

He competed for the Egyptian national team and won second place and a silver medal in the African Championship, which qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.

He traveled to Morocco for the African Triathlon Championship with the national team, achieving fourth place in Africa and then first place in the last triathlon championship at Cairo Stadium.

His total medals totaled 49 (gold, silver, and bronze), confirming his continued athletic excellence.

The Egyptian champion was able to register his name in the Guinness Book of World Records after swimming the longest distance in history, over 750 kilometers from behind the Aswan Dam to Tahrir Square in Cairo, without stopping. This was an initiative aimed at supporting Egyptian tourism and promoting the strength and determination of people of determination.