Mohamed, 44

'Good for Focus'

“In June 2022, I started leading. First time leading, I was nervous. It was scary. I was afraid. I wanted to do it right. I thought maybe I would forget some movements. That’s what I was worried about.

It’s fun. It’s good for focus. You care about the movements, the complete program, the complete movement. You want to memorize it all. It helps your brain. I get more power every day. I get stronger than I already was. My mind is better. Before I was a leader, I sometimes didn’t participate. Now I focus more, care about the complete program, take care not to miss the program or a movement.

I wake up at 4 in the morning. I usually work out, take a shower, drink coffee, tea, eat breakfast. I go for a walk for about one hour and then go home.

I like (living in Utah) very much. I like the mountains. It’s not cold. (laughs) In Sudan it’s Red Sea weather. It has four seasons, but in winter it is dry, cold, windy, sometimes it snows. There it is dry and cold – you feel the cold in your bones.”

Photograph and story documented by Stephen Speckman.