Achmat Hassiem

ABOUT ACHMAT HASSIEM

South African swimmer who was nicknamed Sharkboy following an injury he sustained from an attack by a great white shark. He won a bronze medal in the 100m Butterfly S10 event of the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. He had also competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing.

He studied at Bergvliet High School in Cape Town. In 2006, he was attacked by a four-and-a-half meter long great white shark, and his right leg was severed. He subsequently underwent an amputation on the lower portion of his leg.

He is a shark conservationist and has worked closely with The Pew Charitable Trusts. He has also visited the UN, the US Capitol, and has met with government leaders across the globe to talk about the protection of endangered species.

He was born in South Africa.

He and fellow Paralympic swimmer Natalie DuToit were both born in South Africa.