Adlan Hifuri makes headlines in his first year of swimming at Quaker Valley in the US

by: ray fisher

Sunday, March 3, 2024 | 11:01am

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It was a first in a row for Quaker Valley swimmer Adlan Hifli.

“This is my first year living in the United States, my first time attending public school, and my first time being on the U.S. swim team,” said Hifuri, a third-year student. “I started her journey to live in the United States in July 2023.”

Hifuri's swimming history is unique, as she lived in Hong Kong with her family before enrolling at Quaker Valley.

“His father worked in Hong Kong,” QV coach Mercedes McCarthy said. “Adlan is an invaluable addition to our race. He's a very polite young man. He's just a very nice kid.”

Hifuri, 16, grew up in Asia and spent most of her life abroad.

“I have been living in Hong Kong for the past seven years,” Ms Hifuri said. “Before that, I lived in Japan, Shanghai, and Thailand. My family accompanied my father on his overseas assignments, so I have lived in Asia almost all my life.”

Hifri's father, Sameer, is president of Covestro US, a leading manufacturer of polymers and high-performance plastics in the United States and internationally.

A talented swimmer, Hifuri also dove into Asian culture while living in Hong Kong. He can speak Chinese, French and English.

“The experience of living all over the world is unique,” ​​he said. “Cosmopolitan diversity, endless beaches, unique city skylines, amazing hikes and countless unique vacations are just some of the many things you can experience when living in Hong Kong.

“Some of my favorite aspects are the easily accessible and incredibly safe public transportation, world-famous concerts, daily live sports coverage, and the endless nature to explore.”

Hifuri's swimming training at Hong Kong International School began in the sixth grade of elementary school and continued until her second year of high school. He learned the value of hard work and the rewards that come with it.

“I swam not only in high school but also for a club team called the Hong Kong Stingrays,” he said. “The competition was very fierce and the practice was very tiring.

“This hard work with an international coaching staff and diverse team taught me the value of hard work, time management, and teamwork. This is what made me the athlete I am today.”

In fact, Hifuri started playing pool in Japan when he was four years old. He later also participated in other sports.

“As I got older, I became interested in trying different sports,” he said. “I played soccer and tennis, but ended up joining the rugby (team) in second grade. Rugby was my second sport, and I still play rugby during the swimming off-season. Masu.”

At Quaker Valley, the 5-foot-5, 140-pound Hifuri specializes in the breaststroke event.

“Adlan is a phenomenal breaststroker,” McCarthy said. “He's used to long breaststroke races (in Hong Kong).”

Hifuri is the third oldest of four siblings. His older brother Elias is taking a gap semester from Penn State University and is currently doing a “shadowing experience” in sports rehabilitation. He plans to join the YMCA Masters swim team in Sewickley Valley.

His older sister, Neila, is a freshman in the University of San Diego women's swimming program and serves as team captain in training. Hifuri's younger brother, Elam, competes on the Sewickley YMCA swim team.

“My whole family has been swimming since they were young,” Hifuri said. “Everyone is still involved in swimming in some way.”

Haifuli and his family are now residents of Sewickley.

“Choosing a new home and school system required extensive research,” said Hai-Furi's mother, Casey. “QVSD has a good reputation and after touring the school we were confident that QVSD was the perfect fit for us. It's great to live close to family and it makes up for the time we spent apart. .”

“The United States has changed a lot since we left 16 years ago. It takes time and effort to adjust to a new environment. The repatriation and culture shock is real.”

Tag: Quaker Valley