Omar Samra
& Omar Nour to Defy the Atlantic in Pursuit of a
New Achievement
Cairo, 2 May 2017 - Egyptian Adventurer Omar Samra and
professional Egyptian triathlete Omar Nour will take on one of the world’s
toughest adventures - rowing 5,000 nautical kilometers from the Canary Islands
to Antigua, unsupported, as part of the Atlantic Challenge. The team will depart
from the Canary Islands on 12 December 2017.
Commenting on the new challenge, Omar Samra said: "The
idea of completing a human-powered ocean-crossing always intrigued me, but I
knew that this was one perilous adventure I couldn’t do alone. I immediately
started looking for a team mate – it takes a certain kind of person to keep
going when faced with 50-foot waves, blisters, salt rash, sharks and sleep
deprivation. When an injury side-lined Omar Nour from the Rio 2016 Olympics, I
knew I’d found my man."
"Our personalities are worlds apart – his contagious
energy and winning attitude complements my calm demeanor and ability to deal
with high pressure situations. Together, we make a formidable team," Samra
added.
"While Omar Samra and I are accomplished in
mountaineering and triathlon, it comes to rowing an ocean, we’re starting from
scratch - we have absolutely no knowledge of the ocean, and had never been in a
rowing boat until just a short month ago! It’s refreshing to try something
completely new – to test the limit of our physical and mental strength and to
achieve something unthinkable. We want to defy our limits, and inspire the
world to do the same!” Omar Nour added.
Together the two Omar’s are dubbed O2. Once they
leave the safety of the harbor, no outside assistance is permitted throughout the
crossing. They’ll be alone, completely unsupported in the vast ocean and at the
mercy of the environment.
In addition to undergoing high intensity physical training
to morph their bodies into that of elite rowers, the duo will need to undergo sufficient
mental training together to be able to handle any situation the elements throw
at them. The duo will also have to complete multiple qualifications prior to
the race start including a RYA Yacht-master Ocean Theory, First Aid at Sea, Sea
Survival and a VHF Radio License.
If they successfully complete the crossing, they will be
the first Arab team to row across an ocean. The world record for pairs, which O2
have set firmly in their sights, is 40 days, 4 hours and 3 minutes.
It will be capable of converting seawater into drinking
water and have solar panels to power the GPS and other vital electrical equipment.
The team will have 90 days’ worth of food rations stored in the small cabin,
along with first-aid kits, tracking beacons and communications devices.
O2’s Atlantic adventure will launch on 12
December 2017.
About Omar Samra
Omar Samra is an adventurer,
motivational speaker, future astronaut, and U.N. goodwill ambassador. Samra was
the first Egyptian to climb Everest, the 7 Summits and ski to both the North
and South Pole.
About Omar Nour
Omar Nour is the first
Egyptian professional triathlete in history, representing Egypt on the Olympic
triathlon circuit
At age 29, he weighed in at
105 kg and turned his life around by signing up for this first ever triathlon.
Two short years later, Nour earned his pro-card and started his professional
triathlon career at age 31.
In addition to his triathlon
career, Nour has successfully launched his own brand “o.n.” which is synonymous
to healthy living and lifestyle, and is an active motivational speaker. He is
also an avid entrepreneur having started numerous companies with his younger
brother.