by Ben Ayuko
contact info: benayuko@gmail.com
{image by NOC-K}
Bwana Abubakar Ridhwan Mohamed represented Kenya in the 400m freestyle event in swimming competition at the Paris Olympics.
He was facing a tough field of swimmers, and it showed from the start as they took off, leaving him behind. It wasn’t until the 100m meter mark when he caught up to the rest of the field and, in a turn of events, took the lead of the race; no doubt a proud moment.
Alas, it was to be a moment and nothing more, as by the time they hit the 200m mark, he had been overcome by the strong swimmers.
He finished in 4th place in his heat which, unfortunately, meant his Olympic dream had come to an end. But not before giving us a glimpse of what we have to look forward to in future tournaments from the 23-year-old.
The National Recorder will now be focusing his attentions on cheering on his fellow swimming teammate, Maria Brunlehner, as she prepares to emulate his achievement in her own event, the 50m freestyle on Saturday, the 3rd of August 2024.
Maria will be looking to replicate the performance she gave in 2019 that earned her a Bronze Medal in the Africa Games held in Rabat, Morocco. Of course, at the time she was competing in the 4x100m medley relay and therefore was working in a team. However, she is quietly confident of her chances in the event.
With her sights locked on setting a new National Record, like Abubakar before her, we can only cheer her on as she fights through the field on her way to the final on the grandest of stages.