Making waves with deep determination

Kuwait Times

4 days ago

Kuwaiti swimmer Shaikha Boureki dives into greatness — breaking barriers, boundaries and breath-holding limits
Shaikha Boureki is no stranger to pushing limits. A lifelong athlete, she rediscovered her connection to the water after returning to Kuwait from the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a casual return to swimming soon evolved into a deeper, more demanding pursuit: Finswimming — a high-speed sport using monofins that mimic the fluid motion of marine life.
Since 2021, Boureki has represented Kuwait in international finswimming competitions, setting multiple national records along the way. Competing in both horizontal (pool) and vertical (depth) disciplines, she has also represented Kuwait in two Freediving World Championships. Most recently, at the 2025 Freediving Indoor World Championship in Athens, she shattered not only personal barriers but national and regional ones, earning three national records in distinct disciplines for Kuwait.
Kuwait Times: When did your journey in aquatic sports begin?
Shaikha Boureki: I've always been athletic. My journey into aquatic sports started in 2021 when the Olympic Committee posted about a one-month women's swimming camp in collaboration with Faye Sultan. I'd always wanted to improve my swimming, so I signed up. After the camp, a fellow swimmer mentioned that a club was scouting for Kuwait's finswimming team and recommended me. She passed my contact info to the team manager, Hanady Al-Zaabi, who invited me to try out — and I made it! It all happened so suddenly.
In 2023, Kuwait hosted the Indoor Freediving World Championship. I was curious and started training, but the transition from finswimming — where speed and breathing are key — to freediving, which demands calmness and breath-holding, was tough. I struggled and was scared. Freediving is extreme—you're essentially suffocating on purpose. But I found my calling. Overcoming fear and building mental strength became my mission.
KT: You broke three national records in three disciplines. Tell us more.
Boureki: • DYN (Dynamic Apnea with Monofin) is about distance. I wear a monofin and try to conserve oxygen while swimming as far as I can on one breath. A clean exit — surfacing with the OK sign and without blacking out — is key.
• DYN-BF (Dynamic Apnea with Bifins) is similar, but I use two long fins.
•2x50 is a speed event: two 50-meter dives. In training, I did both on a single breath in 53 seconds. In competition, I took a breath between them to be safe — competition pressure is different.
The toughest was the 150m monofin dive. It was the last day, morale was low, and pressure was high. At 75m, I wanted to quit. I told myself, 'You've already broken the bifin record, that's enough.' But then another voice said, 'You're okay. You can go further.' I even convinced myself I was a fish! That inner talk got me through. Freediving is truly a mental sport.
KT: How did it feel to hit the 150m mark, especially breaking Kuwaiti and GCC records?
Boureki: I was thrilled and proud. I worked incredibly hard. You can see it in the video — I was smiling while giving the OK sign to the judges. It felt amazing to break a record on the world stage, not just locally. The pressure was worth it.
KT: What does a typical training week look like?
Boureki: I train 5-6 times a week. That includes swimming, diving, and 1-2 gym sessions for strength. I also do breathing exercises at home. My routine includes conditioning in the pool, targeted diving sessions, and strength training.
KT: What's the biggest lesson freediving has taught you?
Boureki: Mental strength is everything. A champion mindset builds a champion. Positive self-talk improves performance. Shifting from 'I can't' to 'I can' changed my life. That mindset helped me achieve things I never imagined.
KT: What was the most unforgettable moment from the Athens championship?
Boureki: Seeing my coach after I surfaced and got the white card. I thought, 'We did it'. For the first time, I saw that proud 'good job' look on his face from across the pool.
KT: What advice would you give to young athletes, especially Kuwaiti women?
Boureki: Kuwaiti women are powerful. We have the will and persistence to succeed — even in male-dominated fields. Just look at how Kuwaiti women are excelling in swimming, shooting, sailing, triathlon — we even have IronWOMEN in Kuwait! With time and effort, we can reach any goal. I'll keep diving to prove that we can do this and break more records.
KT: Do you see yourself mentoring future freedivers?
Boureki: I love this sport so much. I'll always advocate for it and try to get more people to try it. While I'll always be a student, I'd love to mentor or coach in the future.
KT: What's next for you?
Boureki: 200 meters! That's my next big goal, and it would place me among the world's top 15. I also have a speed competition coming up in Abu Dhabi in November 2025. And hopefully, by the end of the year, we'll host a freediving competition in Kuwait.