China-born Nigeria swimmer Nwandu targets PB

Seventeen-year-old Nigeria swimmer Adaku Nwandu is targeting a new personal best as she is delighted to be competing for Nigeria at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games, The PUNCH reports.

Born to a Nigerian father and Chinese mother in China, Nwandu started representing the country after featuring at the National Sports Festival, which was held in Asaba in 2022.

Although her father is from Enugu, she represented Bayelsa in Asaba 2022 and helped them set a new national record of 9:28:30 in the 4×200m freestyle women’s swimming event.

She qualified for the Olympics by her World Aquatics (FINA) ranking, and she will be competing in the women’s 50m freestyle on Saturday.

“It feels so real, and I feel so excited. I have never expected this to happen in my swimming career, but I’m excited to be here among all these amazing athletes,” Nwandu said via Making of Champions.

“I definitely want to get a new personal best here. From my experience, I just try not to overthink. I just want to be able to focus and think more clearly; I’m just taking it as easy as possible,” she added.

From the World Aquatics website, Nwandu’s best time in the women’s 50m freestyle is 25.60s, which she produced at the 10th Singapore National Championships in November 2023.

She also reflected on how her journey in swimming started.

“I started swimming when I was eight years old. At a school competition, I didn’t do so well, and I asked my dad if I could get something if I did better, and he promised me ice cream once every week.”

The women’s 50m freestyle is Team Nigeria’s only event on Saturday, and she is in heat 6 along with seven other swimmers.

Only the fastest 16 of the 79 swimmers in the event will qualify for the semifinals.

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