Girl swimmer Nada Arakji all set to create even more history for Qatar

Qatari swimmer Nada Arakji will once again make history as the first female athlete to represent Qatar twice at the quadrennial Olympic Games, Qatar News Agency reported.

Arakji wrote herself into the history books at the 2012 London Games when she became one of Qatar’s first-ever female Olympians.

For Arakji, sport runs in the family. Her father Mohamed Wafa Arakji was Qatar’s national football team goalkeeper in the 1970s and ’80s, as well as a player for iconic Qatari club Al Sadd.

It was this early exposure to sport that laid the framework for the 22 year-old swimmer.

"I did basketball, netball, ballet and swimming. My favourite was swimming and I felt the most connection with that sport. Everything else felt ok but it didn’t feel right. But when I started swimming, I felt it was for me," she said.

Arakji, who was accepted into Carnegie Mellon University Qatar right before she competed in London, and graduated this year ahead of Rio, walks a fine line to find the balance between her education and swimming career.

"Balancing between swimming and my studies is hard, but since I’m passionate about both, it’s all about organising your time. I think that’s the key thing to success," she said, adding "Nothing’s going to get in your way if you love what you do."

It is Arakji’s love and passion for her sport that led her to the London Olympics.

"The historic moment, being the first Qatari female to represent my country at the Olympics, was really something big for me. Competing in London was a dream come true." she said.

With her university graduation behind her, Arakji continues her tireless training, which takes place in the state-of-the-art Hamad Aquatic Centre, and she hopes to utilize her previous experience when she competes in Rio.

"My experience in London has helped. I’ve gone to my first Olympics, seen what it’s like. I’ve an idea of what the atmosphere will be like in Rio. My goals for the Olympics Games are to be the best I can be and definitely to get a personal best time. With all the training I’ve done, I hope I’ll be able to make everyone happy," she said.

Nada has high hopes that her participation in the Olympics for the second time will inspire young Qatari girls to take up sports and to challenge the status quo.

"I definitely hope to inspire more young athletes to take up sport, especially women. I encourage all the girls out there to not be afraid and take risks. It doesn’t have to be sports. Whether it’s education or sports or other things," she said.

Nada will compete in 200M freestyle and 100M butterfly events at the Rio Games.

Courtesy: qna.org.qa