Egyptian Born Olympic Swimmer Now Calls Oklahoma Home

With the OKC River Sports Complex and other facilities, Oklahoma is making its presence known as a training ground for Olympic athletes from all over the world.

“I started swimming when I was six years old,” said Ali Khalafalla, two-time Olympic swimmer.

Growing up in Egypt, swimming is actually very popular.

“Egypt has a lot of pools, like at least four pools per mile, and it’s huge, you wouldn’t think about it that way but it’s a lot of pools,” said Khalafalla.

In 2011, during the Egyptian uprising, his family made the decision to move to the United States.

“One of the main reasons was I wanted to take swimming to the next level,” said Khalafalla.

They moved to Virginia, where his potential was quickly noticed by his future coach.

“I raced Ali and the other guys, and Ali beat me, and as an Olympian, a two-time Olympian, I didn’t like that,” said Oklahoma Christian University swim coach Josh Davis.

Davis began working with Khalafalla through high school, where he qualified for the Youth Olympic Games, eventually qualifying him for the 2016 Olympics.

“It was so exciting it was my first Olympic games, I was thrilled, I face timed my family right after and said ‘get your tickets, we’re going to Rio, Brazil, for my first Olympics,’” said Khalafalla.

“Ali has that combination of three things, good genetics, and he has good long arms, good floppy feet, and he’s got good work ethic,” said Davis.

Khalafalla participated in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, now the door opened for him to reunite with his high school in Edmond.

“Now I’m here in Edmond training for next year’s Paris 2024,” said Khalafalla.

As one of the top 25 sprint swimmers in the world, Khalafalla is typically in the pool six days a week, then lifts weights and still trains with the Oklahoma Christian college swim team.

“We have some very good NCAA swimmers on our college team, so I know what it’s like to train college level kids, but he’s a different breed, he’s a different animal,” said Noah Yanchulis, Oklahoma Christian University swim coach.

Khalafalla now considers Oklahoma home.

“Everyone is just super friendly, the meets that I came to here in Edmond were super nice, the people, the pool is awesome,” said Khalafalla.  

Khalafalla obviously spends a lot of time training for the Olympics, and retirement is the furthest thing from his mind, but when he’s not in the pool, he’s studying to get his real estate license.