Arab swimmers shine in 50m freestyle heats

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Nada Al Bedwawi.

    Nada Al Bedwawi became the first Emirati female swimmer to compete at the Olympics on Friday after taking part in the 50m freestyle heats at the Aquatics Stadium in Rio.

    Al Bedwawi, the UAE’s flag-bearer during the Olympics opening ceremony, clocked 33.42 seconds to place third in her heat, behind Myanmar’s Ei Ei Thet and Bahrain’s Fatema Al Mahmeed.

    The 19-year-old was competing in Rio via a wildcard invitation and is thrilled to be blazing a trail for young Emirati woman.

    “I feel good, I did my best and I’m proud of what I did,” Al Bedwawi told Sport360 after her swim.

    “I really hope to come back to the UAE and pave the way for more Emirati swimmers.

    “I have so many plans on how to achieve that and hopefully I can execute them.”

    The 50 free saw the largest Arab participation at a swimming event this week in Rio.

    Egypt’s Farida Osman missed out on the semi-finals by a mere 0.09sec, placing 18th overall – the top 16 advance – with an impressive new African record and personal best time of 24.91.

    Kuwait’s Faye Sultan, competing under the Olympic flag due to her nation’s suspension, clocked 26.86 to win her heat.

    Sultan was the first-ever female swimmer to represent Kuwait when she took part in the 50 free in London 2012.

    Morocco’s Noura Mana was fourth in Sultan’s heat with a 28.20.Syrian Bayan Juma and Jordan’s Talita Baqlah faced off in the sixth heat.

    Juma placed fourth with a 26.41 while Baqlah smashed the Jordanian national record, finishing fifth with a 26.48.​

    “I’m so happy to swim a new personal best,” Baqlah was quoted as saying by Jordan Olympic Committee’s official website.

    “I feel like this is a message to every young girl in Jordan who wishes to take up a sport, that she should work hard and do everything possible to accomplish her dream.

    “I only found out I was competing in Rio last month, so I didn’t have too much time to prepare. I feel like I’ve achieved a small part of what I was hoping for.”

    Palestine’s Miri Al Atrash and Sudan’s Haneen Ibrahim also took to the pool in the event. Al Atrash clocked 28.76 while Ibrahim swam a time of 36.23.

    Recommended