Sport360° speaks to Dubai-based swimmer Hannah Taleb-Bendiab about her swimming highlights and her goals for the future.
Date of birth: September 24, 1997
Birthplace: Coventry, England
Nationality: British/Algerian
City of residence: Dubai
Club: Hamilton Aquatics
Coach: Ash Morris
Favourite stroke: Breaststroke
PB in your best swimming event: 50m breaststroke 34.4 seconds, 100m breaststroke 1:15.4, 200m breaststroke 2:43.6. I just swam that one recently in Eindhoven.
How did you initially get into swimming? I don’t really know. I think I just started at primary school here in Dubai, in the club team, and I just liked it and kept on doing it.
Favourite swimmer: Chad le Clos. He’s a family friend and I just look up to him because he’s so nice, he’s not cocky like some athletes.
Inspiration/idol: I never really looked up to anyone growing up to be honest.
Nicest venue you’ve ever swum in: Definitely the Hamdan Sports Complex, I love this pool.
Career highlight/best achievement in the pool to date: I went to the Youth Arab Games last year and I won a gold and a silver. I also set four national times in the 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, the 200m and 100m breaststroke.
Toughest swim meet you’ve ever been part of: The Eindhoven one, it was really tough, there were some fast people there.
Biggest dream/goal in swimming: I’d really like to go to the Olympics. It would be nice to win something but not necessarily that, just be at the Olympics.
Short term goals in swimming: To keep on swimming and get through my exams.
Favourite meal: Pasta or cereal. Chocolate flakes are my favourite.
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: I like the beach, I go to JBR.
Least favourite part of swimming practice: Long distance stuff, I’m not a fan of that.
Other sports or hobbies: I used to play netball but I stopped that because of my back. Nothing much really, just swimming and school.
Coolest person you’ve ever met: Probably these two swimmers in our club, Lucie and Greta Agnew, they’re sisters and I love them, they’re just so funny.
Favourite sporting moment you’ve ever watched: Probably watching Chad le Clos and Velimir Stjepanovic against Michael Phelps in the 200m fly final at the London 2012 Olympics. That was a really good race.
