Main fundraiser photo

Fastest 50: First Stop Cairo, Egypt

Donation protected
In 2021, I will be 50 years old and I want to break the world record in the 50 meter freestyle. I want to say that I am the fastest in the 50 at 50  ever in the history of humanity!

Can I do it? I think so. I am currently 4th on the FINA Masters Swimming Top 10 Times for the Men's 45-49 SCM 50 Free with a time of 23.58. I missed the world record by 0.29 seconds, but I did manage to break US Olympic Champion Matt Biondi's US Master Swimming National Record of 23.65. 

In the LCM 50 Free, I swam 24.63, which is the 11th fastest time ever in the event for the Men's 45 to 49 age group and the 5th fastest America. 

The world record for the SCM 50 to 54 age is group is held by Rowdy Gaines at 23.38 and the LCM record is held by Brent Barnes at 24.08. To break the world record, I will have to swim faster than I have ever swam before!

I'm ready to start my two year preparations and return to competition, but I am going to need money to travel around the world, train and compete. 

There are a lot more opportunities for professional swimming, and a lot of money is coming in to the sport, but none of it is for Masters swimming. There are few sponsorship, no travel stipends, and no prize money. To be a professional masters swimmer, perhaps the first ever, I am going to need support. 

On October 4th and 5th, the Heliopolis Sporting Club in Cairo, Egypt will be hosting the 1st International Swimming Masters Championships. Genetic testing and a lot of research shows that my paternal ancestors were among the original inhabitants of the city of Cairo, which was first called Iunu and later called "On" in the Bible and "Heliopolis" by the Greeks.

To kick off my "Fastest 50" campaign, I want to compete in the city of my ancestors as part of a spiritual pilgrimage to honor them and receive their help to start my campaign. 

I am an Ambassador for MySwimPro. Not only do they make a great swim training app, but they also suport their athletes and their community. I am trying to fulfill the "Pro" in MySwimPro. 

I realize this may seem like a completely selfish campaign, but it is often said, "Believe in yourself" and "Don't give up on your dreams!" Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a professional athlete, to be a world or Olympic champion, to break a world record. I hope to inspire people of all ages, especially older adults, that it is never to late to pursue your dreams or to perform better as you age. 

That said, I have two other GoFundMe campaigns that are designed to directly help other people and if you prefer, you can donate to one of those other campaigns:

https://www.gofundme.com/4-minute-fit

https://www.gofundme.com/fit-for-reentry 

Read "My Best Year Yet With MySwimPro" 

 Thank you for your contribution! I will keep you posted on my progress to become the Fastest 50.

Organizer

Siphiwe Ka Baleka
Organizer
Springfield, MO

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.