Olympics 2016: Nepal swimmer, 13 is youngest at Rio, Gaurika Singh
9:15 AM
A teenage girl from the Himalayan nation of Nepal is set to be the youngest competitor at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio. Gaurika Singh, aged 13, is to compete in the women’s 100m backstroke. Born in Nepal but based in London since 2004, Gaurika already holds seven national swimming records in her home country. The daughter of a doctor, Gaurika has been training for the last four years at the Barnet Copthall Swimming Club in north-west London and is part of a team of seven representing Nepal in Rio. She began competing in championships in Nepal when she was only 11. ‘Go girl!’ Gaurika’s age and achievements have not gone unnoticed in the Nepalese press. “She is Nepal’s best swimmer so far,” declares The Kathmandu Post, adding that she “broke Nepal’s drought” with her haul of four medals at the South Asian Games in India earlier this year. Gaurika “reacted with total disbelief” when she found out she is the youngest athlete at the Games, The Annapurna Post newspaper notes.
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