Mohammed Abbas (swimmer)
Mohammed Abbas Sabih | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 28, 1978 Baghdad, Iraq |
| Occupation | Swimmer (retired) |
| Known for | Competing in the 2004 Summer Olympics |
Mohammed Abbas Sabih (; born February 28, 1978) is a retired Iraqi swimmer who specialized in sprint freestyle events. During the era of Saddam Hussein, he was considered one of Iraq's top swimming talents and trained with the University of British Columbia Dolphins Swim Club in Canada.
Abbas secured his spot in the men's 100 m freestyle at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics through a Universality invitation from FINA, entering with a time of 58.24 seconds. In the preliminary heats, he finished sixty-third out of 71 competitors, which was insufficient to move forward to the semifinal round.
During the Olympic Games, Abbas mentioned maintaining a friendship with Canadian swimmer Mike Mintenko, whom he met while training at UBC. He also disclosed that Iraqi athletes frequently endured training conditions comparable to a "17-cell prison" basement and were subjected to torture by Uday Hussein if their performances were deemed unsatisfactory.