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{{Short description|Indian para swimmer (born 1986)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| image = Shams Aalam at the TEDx Dhavari, april 2019.jpg
| fullname = Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|7|17}}
| birth_place = Rathaus, [[Madhubani district]],<br> [[Bihar]], India
| website = {{URL|www.shamsaalam.com}}
| height =
| weight =
| country = {{IND}}
| sport = Para Swimming
| event =
| paralympics =
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}
}}

'''Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh''' (born 17 July 1986) is an Indian Para swimmer. He is currently ranked number 1 by the World Para Swimming (WPS) in men's 100 m butterfly (S5 category) and men's 50 m breaststroke (SB4 category) as on 2 February 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-02 |title=Shams Aalam on cloud nine with two world No.1 rankings |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/shams-aalam-on-cloud-nine-with-two-world-no-1-rankings/articleshow/107368650.cms |access-date=2024-02-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> On 10 November 2024, he set a world record for longest open water swimming.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2024-11-11 |title=Para swimmer Aalam sets world record in open water |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/para-swimmer-aalam-sets-world-record-in-open-water/articleshow/115164202.cms |access-date=2024-12-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-11 |title=Longest distance swum in open water by a paraplegic swimmer |url=https://worldrecordsunion.com/longest-distance-swum-in-open-water-by-a-paraplegic-swimmer/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=World Records Union™ |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Aalam was born in Rathaus Village, [[Madhubani District]], [[Bihar]], and later moved to [[Mumbai]] with his family. At the age of 24, he developed a benign tumour in his lower back which immobilized his lower half due to unsuccessful surgeries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/social-news/paralyzed-bandra-man-swims-across-8-kms-in-4-hours-proves-anything-is-possible/articleshow/58108716.cms|title=Mohammed holds record in swimming after defeating cancer|date=10 April 2017|accessdate=15 August 2019|website= Malayalam Samayam}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first=|date=2024-01-31 |title=Shams Aalam Shaikh wins 6 medals; sets NRs at Reykjavik International Games |url=https://thebridge.in/para-sports/shams-aalam-shaikh-six-medals-national-records-reykjavik-international-games-45811?infinitescroll=1 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=thebridge.in |language=en}}</ref> He lives in Dharavi, Mumbai and holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from [[Rizvi College of Engineering]] and MBA from [[Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology|Sathyabama University]], Chennai<ref>{{cite news |date=12 April 2017 |title=Breaking swimming records against all odds |url=https://navhindtimes.in/breaking-swimming-records-against-all-odds/ |accessdate=15 August 2019 |work=[[The Navhind Times]]}}</ref> He comes from a family of wrestlers.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bihar Para swimmer scripts a first for India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/bihar-para-swimmer-scripts-a-first-for-india/articleshow/91117841.cms |access-date=2024-12-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Swim career ==
Aalam won four gold medals at the Indian Open Para Swimming Championship in 2018, and a bronze medal at the 2016 Can-Am Para Swimming Championships held in [[Gatineau, Quebec]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2016 Can-Am Para Swimming Championships Results |url=https://www.swimming.ca/content/uploads/2015/08/2016canamcompleteresults.pdf}}</ref> He also represented India at the World Para Swimming Championship Maderia Portugal 2022 and [[2018 Asian Para Games]] in Jakarta, Indonesia.<ref>{{cite web |last=Haji |first=Irfan |date=20 September 2018 |title=Aalam relieved after getting Para Asian Games ticket |url=https://www.asianage.com/sports/in-other-sports/300918/aalam-relieved-after-getting-para-asian-games-ticket.html |accessdate=15 August 2019 |website=The Asian Age}}</ref> He is also received Best Sportsperson with Disability Award by the [[president of India]] on 3 December 2021 <ref>{{cite web |title=Para swimmer bags national award for diving into accessibility |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/para-swimmer-bags-national-award-for-diving-into-accessibility/articleshow/88097837.cms |publisher=Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nath |first1=Damini |date=6 December 2021 |title=National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2020 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ruing-the-loss-of-a-moment-on-stage/article37857889.ece |work=THE HINDU}}</ref>

==Athletic career==
Aalam was interested in karate and participated in state and national karate events before 2010. After his surgery, he started to train as a swimmer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/despite-winning-medals-for-india-this-disabled-mumbai-swimmer-s-life-is-still-very-challenging-351830.html|title=Despite Winning Medals For India, This Disabled Mumbai Swimmer's Life Is Still Very Challenging|first= Priyanka|last= Batt|date=25 August 2018|accessdate=15 August 2019|website= India Times}}</ref> He won a total of 15 medals at the 12th to 17th Indian National Para Swimming Championship, and was selected for the Indian contingent for the 2018 Asian Para Games to participate at the S5 category for 50M and 100M Butterfly and Freestyle and various other categories.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/defying-all-odds-swimmer-shams-alam-shaikh-to-participate-in-asian-para-games-in-indonesia-353959.html|title=Defying All Odds, Swimmer Shams Alam Shaikh To Participate In Asian Para Games In Indonesia|first= Kriti|last= Gupta|date=30 September 2018|accessdate=16 August 2019|website= India Times}}</ref> Aalam won Bronze at the 2016 Can-Am Para Swimming Championships held in Gatineau, Quebec in the men's 100m Breaststroke SB4 category.<ref>https://www.swimming.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2016canamcompleteresults.pdf Page 20</ref>

In the 20th National Para-Swimming Championship, Shams won gold medals in 50m butterfly and 150m medley categories along with one silver in 100m freestyle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/32-km-journey-fell-down-twice-mohammad-shams-aalam-shaikh-s-rocky-road-to-glory|title=The Indian para-swimmer overcame tough training stint to win two gold medals at the 20th National Para-Swimming Championship|publisher=olympics.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/252452/mohammad-shams-alam-shaikh-gurugram-paraplegic-swimmer-world-record-national-para-swimming-championship-covid-19-pandemic-inclusivity-disability-inspiring-ros174|title=Paraplegia Couldn't Stop Bihar Athlete From Winning 50 Medals & World Record for India|publisher=The Better India}}</ref>

In January 2025, Aalam won a gold in the 200m breaststroke with a new Indian record, three silver in 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley and 200m freestyle, and two bronze in 50m breaststroke and 100m freestyle, at the Reykjavik International Games in Iceland.<ref>{{Cite news |title=‘Fasting is purely individual and very personal decision’ |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/fasting-is-purely-individual-and-very-personal-decision/articleshow/118767892.cms |access-date=2025-03-25 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Awards==
Aalam Shaikh was awarded best emerging leader in disability sports and sports diplomacy by the U.S. Department of state global sports mentoring program 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://globalsportsmentoring.org/global-sports-mentor-program/emerging-leaders/shams-aalam/|title=INDIAN SWIMMER AND PARA SPORTS LEADER ADVOCATES FOR INCLUSION|publisher=globalsportsmentoring.org|access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/para-athlete-shams-selected-for-mentorship-program-in-the-us/articleshow/63197172.cms|title=Para athlete Shams selected for the mentorship programme|publisher=Times of India}}</ref> His interview with Kiran Rai for the 300 most influential people in Asia 2020 was published by The [[New York Press]] News Agency.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sociostory.org/impact-stories/paraplegia-struck-shams-aalam-at-a-young-age-but-he-leaves-audience-awestruck-with-his-accolades|title=Paraplegia struck Shams Aalam at a young age, but he leaves audience awestruck with his accolades|publisher=sociostory.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cityspidey.com/news/14413/shams-aalam-a-paraplegic-swimmer-who-overcame-all-odds|title=Shams Aalam: A paraplegic swimmer who overcame all odds|publisher=cityspidey.com}}</ref> He was awarded the role model state award for the empowerment of Persons with Disabilities by the Social Welfare Department, Government of Bihar <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://state.bihar.gov.in/socialwelfare/CitizenHome.html|title=Government of Bihar}}</ref> on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020. He also got the best international athlete of the year 2020 by Bihar Para Sports Association. {{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} On 22 February 2025, he received the Mastery Award at the 23rd CavinKare Ability Awards 2025 organised along with the Ability Foundation in Chennai.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-02-22 |title=Six persons with disabilities honoured at CavinKare Ability Awards 2025 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/six-persons-with-disabilities-honoured-at-cavinkare-ability-awards-2025/article69252255.ece |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Records ==
On 8 April 2017, he swam 9 km in 4 hours at [[Candolim Beach]], [[Goa]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Gupta |first=Sharmila |date=9 April 2017 |title=Paralyzed Bandra Man Swims Across 8 Kms In 4 Hours & Proves Anything Is Possible |url=https://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/36096-paralyzed-bandra-man-swims-across-8-kms-in-4-hours-proves-anything-is-possible.html |accessdate=16 August 2019 |website=Mens XP}}</ref><ref name="shams aalam">{{cite web |last1=shaikh |first1=mohammad shams |title=para swimmer |url=https://globalsportsmentoring.org/global-sports-mentor-program/emerging-leaders/shams-aalam/ |access-date=20 September 2021 |website=U.S. global sports mentoring program}}</ref> It was the world record for longest open sea swimming by a paraplegic person.<ref>{{cite news |title=Longest Open-Sea Swim by a Paraplegic: world record set by Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh |url=https://www.worldrecordacademy.com/sports/longest_open-sea_swim_by_a_paraplegic_world_record_set_by_Mohammad_Shams_Aalam_Shaikh_217097.html |publisher=World Record Academy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Paraplegic's 8km swim makes it to World Records Academy |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/paraplegics-8km-swim-makes-it-to-world-records-academy/articleshow/58438871.cms |publisher=Times of India}}</ref>

He also set a world record for the longest open water swimming at the National Takshila open Water swimming competition in [[Patna]], Bihar, where he swam 13 km in the [[Ganga river]]. The record was ratified by the World Records Union.<ref name=":0" />

In January 2025, Aalam won gold in the 200m breaststroke, with a new Indian and Asian record at the Reykjavik International Games in Iceland.

==See also==
*[[Mariyappan Thangavelu]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aalam, Shams}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Athletes from Bihar]]
[[Category:People from Madhubani district]]
[[Category:Paralympic swimmers for India]]
[[Category:Indian male swimmers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen]]
[[Category:S5-classified para swimmers]]

Shams Aalam - Revision history

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