10-year-old girl from Bahrain youngest swimmer at world championships

She finished last in her 50m butterfly preliminary heat on Friday, but the 10-year-old told the AP that she’s having the time of her life meeting her favorite swimmers and watching them compete at the highest level. Although Tareq clocked in at 41.13 seconds – finishing last in her field – she remained overwhelmingly ecstatic for the chance to compete, and share the pool with her idol, Sarah Sjostrom, reports the Huffington Post.

Tareq, who said earlier in the week she was in Kazan to enjoy the experience and learn, has dealt calmly and patiently with the world’s media who hang on her every word. “I didn’t get the time I wanted, but I still beat my personal best, so I am happy”, beamed Tareq.

“She said, ‘Look, these are my idols”.

Tareq turned the youngest swimmer to ever compete on the worlds on Friday, a serious step towards engaging in her objective of qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I want to beat them in the future, ‘ ” her father said. She trains five days a week, based around going to school, and he is confident it is not too much.

“For a 10-year-old to be able to put into perspective her own goals at this meet is really cool, ” Coventry said.

“She are so gorgeous and tiny”, said the 20-year-old Franklin.

When Tareq was born, in 2005, her fellow contender Fran Halsall won two senior medals at the British Championships.

Schoolgirl from Bahrain takes part in the freestyle sprint on Saturday’s 50m butterfly heats. She attends faculty from 7 a.m.to 2 p.m., rests for an hour after which swims.

The Bahrain women’s team includes 11 other girls, all under the age of 12.

She qualified for Kazan as the Bahrain’s fastest female swimmer.

Tareq said that she had been a bit nervous walking out there, adding that she had never swum in front of so many spectators, the BBC reported. Here’s video of Tareq’s swim.