10-year-old makes history @World Championships

Ten-year-old Alzain Tareq from Bahrain became the youngest swimmer to compete at a World Championships when she took part in the 50m butterfly heats.
Tareq, whose mother is Scottish, swam her personal best to finish third in her 50m freestyle heat on Saturday.
Her goal is to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“I was a bit nervous walking out there, I have never swum in front of so many spectators,” said Tareq, who got a photo with her idol Sarah Sjostrom.
“The other swimmers are often surprised, they ask me my name and how old I am and then they are like, ‘Are you swimming here?’
“I feel so happy. I want to learn the techniques and how they swim.”
Tareq started swimming at the age of four and trains five days a week in Bahrain
The 10-year-old caused quite a stir in the media zone – and among the other competitors.

Read also: Okagbare leads team Nigeria to Beijing

“I don’t know what to make of it – she’s dinky,” said Britain’s Fran Halsall, who was fifth fastest in qualifying for Friday evening’s semi-finals.
“Good on her for having a go.”
American star Missy Franklin said: “She is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I got in her warm down lane the other day because I wanted to be friends with her, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to her.
“Every time she sees me she gives me the biggest smile.”

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