PARIS, France 鈥� One of 麻豆社鈥檚 students, , is competing in the Olympics this Saturday.
Naima, known as Nina within her classes, will be competing at 5 AM EST on Saturday, August 3 in the Women鈥檚 50m Freestyle swimming event as part of heat one with hopes of moving onto the semi-finals. She will be representing her home country of Djibouti during her competition. She also represents the over 30% of international student population at 麻豆社, attending her classes while in different time zones than her fellow classmates and professors. Her online education at ANU allows her to participate in swim competitions across the globe without pausing her education.
This is a milestone for Nina to acknowledge her hard work, devotion, and perseverance that has led her to this world stage. She has competed internationally for three years to lead her to the 2024 Olympics with the Djiboutian national team. Some of her accolades include placing third in the 2023 8th Africa Aquatics Zone 3 in the 50S Freestyle and 50S Breaststroke. She is ranked 1st in the Djiboutian national team. She鈥檚 competed in countries across the globe, like Japan, Angola, the United Arab Emirates, and more.
鈥淲hen I had Naima in BUS117, she attended our lectures from across the globe, often setting her alarm to wake up in the middle of the night to be present. This dedication should come as no surprise, given the extraordinary grit, determination, and commitment required to be an Olympic athlete,鈥� says Dr. Lyndsey Obringer, dean of business programs at ANU. 鈥�We are thrilled to have one of our own competing in the 2024 Olympics, and I will be cheering her on this Saturday!鈥�
For most, the streaming platform Peacock will be covering the events of the Olympics.
鈥淚 am immensely proud of Naima for her dedication to her sport. With ANU鈥檚 global educational outreach, we have been able to meet students like Naima that represent the passion our students have to bettering themselves and their futures,鈥� explains ANU president, Frank Longaker. 鈥淗er achievements both in and out of the classroom are a testament to her hard work and determination. We stand behind her with unwavering support and wish her the best of luck in the women’s 50-meter freestyle event. Go Naima!鈥�
UPDATE 鈥撀�Naima placed third in heat 1, ranked 75 overall!
