TANZANIA: TANZANIA Swimming Association (TSA), Technical Director, Amina Mfaume, has praised Tanzanian swimmers Sophia Latiff and Collins Saliboko for setting new national records at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Latiff achieved a time of 28.42 seconds in the Women’s 50-meter Freestyle, finishing 8th in her heat. Saliboko clocked 53.38 seconds in the Men’s 100-metre Freestyle, securing 7th place.
Mfaume expressed satisfaction with their performances, stating, “While medals were not our immediate goal, we aimed for them to improve their personal bests, which they successfully did.
“Their achievements reflect well on us, especially given their universality status, which is a challenging path to the Olympics.
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Many swimmers with direct qualifications did not secure medals, so placing in the top ten is an impressive feat.” Looking ahead, Mfaume emphasised the positive outlook for future competitions.
“We began preparations for the 2028 Olympics last year and have already identified promising swimmers who are close to qualifying times, with some just one second behind.
These athletes, mostly aged 16 to 17, are on track to potentially qualify directly in 2028. Their progress is promising.” Mfaume also highlighted the broader impact of the Olympics.
“Beyond medals, the Olympics unite people through sport and our swimmers have contributed to this spirit with their strong performances.”
The TSA is optimistic about future success and looks forward to seeing these records challenged in the upcoming Olympics.