Swimming with heart: Nadimul’s fight beyond the finish line

If passion fuels the journey and mental strength steadies the course, then no obstacle can stand in the way. This belief isn't just a saying for Nadimul Haque---it's how he lives, how he swims, and how he continues to inspire.

In the fiercely competitive world of swimming, where races are won and lost by fractions of a second, every advantage counts.

Precision, timing, and flawless form can mean the difference between the podium and the pool deck. For Nadimul, however, the challenge is greater.

Born without four fingers on his left hand, he competes in events like the breaststroke and butterfly---disciplines that require swimmers to touch the wall with both hands simultaneously. The rules don't bend, and neither does Nadimul.

Representing the Shilaidah Swimming Club at the 37th National Age-Level Swimming Championships in Mirpur, the teenager from Nikli in Kishoreganj stunned onlookers with a medal haul that would be impressive for any swimmer, let alone one competing with a physical disadvantage.
Over two days, he clinched three silver medals and one bronze: silver in the 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter freestyle on Wednesday, followed by silver in the 200-meter breaststroke and bronze in the grueling 1500-meter freestyle on Thursday.

And yet, he narrowly missed the top spot. The reason? A familiar story for young Bangladeshi students; academic pressure.
"I couldn't practice much because of the HSC test exams," Nadimul explained. "I was close to gold but missed it by microseconds. Otherwise, I could've won in all the events."

Nadimul's journey in swimming began in 2016, and by 2021, he was already a regular name on the winners' list. Gold medals, too, have begun to decorate his career.

But it hasn't always been easy. His condition once cast a shadow over his family's hopes, but today, he shines bright enough to make them forget their early fears. His success has become a source of pride and joy.

"I've had this condition since birth," he said, his voice steady with quiet determination. "Yet I compete against the top swimmers in Bangladesh—those from BKSP, Ansar, and other top clubs. I want to go even further with this hand. If my hand were fully functional, I could've done even better."

His competitive fire was lit long ago in the haor region of Nikli, where water isn't just a feature of the landscape—it's part of life. "We spent our childhood in water," he recalled. "I played football and cricket, climbed trees, did everything like other kids."

But it was family that anchored him to the sport. "My uncle Abul Hashem is a swimming organiser, and his son Enamul Haque is also a swimmer—he plans to cross the English Channel. Many of my cousins swim, too. It runs in the family."

Despite his national success, Nadimul has yet to make his mark on the international stage. He was a promising candidate for the last Para Asian Games but missed out due to accreditation issues. Still, he holds onto hope and ambition.

"If I get the chance to compete in the Paralympics, I believe I can win a medal for Bangladesh. I have that confidence in me."

For Nadimul Haque, the lane lines in the pool aren't barriers—they're guides. And as he continues to swim against the current, his story reminds us that strength isn't measured in muscle alone, but in the heart that refuses to quit.