Samir Gharbo

Samir Gharbo was a member of the Egyptian national water polo team and competed in 63 matches for his country, including four each at the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics, where Egypt finished seventh and joint-ninth respectively in the tournament. He was also a reserve on the 4x200 freestyle relay team both years, although he was not called up to swim. He travelled as a backup player for the water polo team at the 1960 Games, but did not actually appear in any matches that year.

Gharbo was perhaps better known, however, for his medical career. After graduating with a degree in agriculture and pharmacy from Cairo University, he earned a doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Graz and, after serving as a medical officer in the Egyptian Army, taught at Alexandria University. He eventually accepted a position at The Ohio State University, where he also volunteered as a coach with the school’s water polo team. Much of the rest of his career was spent in both academic and professional positions in Ohio, but he was also involved in numerous peace initiatives and authored several works on the subject and on Islam, in addition to his scientific publications. He also competed in local seniors-level swimming events into the 1990s.