Translator: Iman Saeed Reviewer: Abdulatif Mahgoub
In the name of Allah, most merciful, most gracious.
Alsalam Alikum (Peace be upon you)
Today, I'll talk about a tiny part of my life.
I was born in -- No, I won't say, April 23rd.
(Laughter) (Applause)
And when I turned two years old,
I was diagnosed with polio.
My parents, like all Sudanese parents and all parents all over the world
felt worried and anxious, they visited many doctors
and they all had the same thing to say: it was incurable.
My parents weren't convinced, so they flew me to Egypt.
And there, the doctor said the same thing,
except he added that swimming may prove helpful.
And so as soon as we returned, my father took me and my siblings
to learn swimming together, and also for moral support.
I firmly believe that my father had the biggest role in me being Sara Gadalla.
(Applause)
And as soon as we returned, he told me:
"You are a champion, don't be afraid"
"It's ok, you can't walk but you can swim"
"and you are going to be famous."
I started dreaming big, and we dreamt together until we became one.
And to this day our names are pronounced as one, Sara Gadalla.
I learned how to swim and I began to swim competitively,
I started with the junior league, and I won that.
Then I went on to represent Sudan
in Nairobi and China,
I participated in the national championship.
I remember when I was young, I'd get very sad and upset
because I couldn't run like the other kids,
girls my age would wear high heels,
whereas I could only wear flats.
So my dad would take me shopping for beautiful and colorful shoes
that would be custom made specially for me
and he would say: "All that matters is that you be happy."
(Applause)
He would also say: "You should always walk tall with your head held high."
"You are an important person, and you are a champion."
"You should have a big dream"
"because big dreams and the efforts you make towards them"
"is what truly matters in life."
"It doesn't matter how a person looks or what they do, what matters is what they contribute."
So I started competing, and one of the races I remember
is the Jabal Awliya - Khartoum race,
and it was the longest at 50 kilometers.
On the race day, there were seven swimmers and I was the only female.
And as is the weather in Sudan, a strong wind blew
and flipped over all the boats that were supposed to accompany the race.
I recall that the president of the federation approached me
and suggested that I don't participate in this race because it was too dangerous.
so I asked him: "Will anyone else participate?"
He said: " The boys are going in." I said; "Then so am I."
(Applause)
I remember my day said: "Just say a prayer and jump in."
So I said a prayer and I jumped in the water, then I asked myself: why did I do it?
(Laughter)
I heard a lot of cheering the entire way to Khartoum.
And from here on, people came to know about a champion called Sara.
And the dream grew bigger, just like my dad told me.
I told him I wanted to compete in the Capri-Naples marathon swim in Italy.
He said he didn't mind and asked if I could handle it.
I said: sure! And off we went.
Capri is basically a small island, frequented by the rich and wealthy,
and the swimmers in the marathon season.
As soon as we departed the ship,
we were greeted with stares of bewilderment.
Because we definitely don't look rich,
But we also cannot be swimmers!
So they asked us: "what brought you here?"
We said we were here for the race.
So they asked: "Well, where is the swimmer?"
I said I am the one, they laughed it off assuming it was a joke.
We asserted that we were in fact there for the race.
So they took our info, and told us
that there has to be a test prior to the actual race.
At the test, I remember that the water seemed so blue and beautiful,
yet it was my first time swimming in salt water,
and so I came out within seconds.
I told them that I won't be able to participate.
especially since I was swimming without goggles.
Amongst the participating teams were Egyptian And Saudi trainers,
They were able to spare me a pair of goggles, and included us in their teams.
Our team was composed of my dad and I, that's it.
All the other teams had doctors, massage therapists, etc.
Except ours, him holding his camera
and me walking by his side not knowing what to do.
(Applause)
And when the race began, the water was so cold and the tide was high,
but despite all this I persevered and continued swimming.
Halfway through the race, I got tired, I said I can't go on.
My dad told me: "Sara, the whole Sudan is waiting for you"
"Do you want to go back and say that you quit?"
(Applause)
I said: No,I'll carry on.
And sure I did, up until around five kilometers from the finishing line,
My dad said: "lift up your head above the water"
"so you can see and hear what the crowds are saying."
I heard loud noises despite the distance,
they were cheering: "Viva Sara! Viva Sara!"
(Applause)
Hearin that gave me an extra push and added momentum,
so I swam as fast as I could until I reached the finishing line.
And I was surprised to hear my name
being broadcasted as I crossed the finishing line:
"Sara Gadalla from Sudan, she is handicapped, participating for the first time"
"as the youngest swimmer in the race, and finished in second place."
(Applause)
That was the world championship.
I remember as I crossed the finishing line
hearing the national anthem as the Sudanese flag is raised,
and I heard the crowds cheering me on, I was surprised
that they accepted me now having laughed at me in the beginning.
And on the next day, I was walking down the street, feeling ecstatic.
Initially they took pity on me and said poor girl,
but the next day, I was walking and limping and they were applauding me.
I felt extremely proud and very happy having represented my country Sudan.
(Applause)
Thank you very much.
(Applause)