Farida Osman Earns Egypts First Ever Swimming World Champs Medal (original) (raw)

2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Farida Osman stormed to a personal best in this evening’s 50 fly final, placing 3rd in a time of 25.39. Not only does that break Osman’s own African Record in the mark, but that is Egypt’s first medal of any color at a World Championships.

The 22 year-old has owned the African Record in this event since 2013 and has broken it on several different occasions, including twice yesterday.

Osman’s mark today now means that the African Record in this event is actually faster than the Americas Record, which is certainly rare, although not entirely unprecedented, as South Africa broke the world record in the 4×100 free in 2004.

Only three African swimmers have earned medals this meet: Osman and South Africa’s Cameron Van Der Burgh and Chad Le Clos.

Osman also owns the African Record in the 100 fly, which she set at last summer’s Olympic Games in Rio. She just finished her senior year at the University of California, where she’s been a key part of a Golden Bears team that has been among the top in the NCAA swimming each year she swam.

Earlier this week, Osman finished 25th in the prelims of the 100 free, and then just missed making semis in the 100 fly. She’ll swim later this session in the semis of the 50 free.

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Farida Osman