Ulya makes record progress, ready for the big Olympics challenge

For Maldivian Olympian swimmer Aishath Ulya Shaaig, getting invited to the Paris 2024 Olympics has boosted her drive multiple fold. Within just a month of receiving word of her qualification to the games, she managed to break the national swimming record twice.

Ulya qualified for the games by becoming the top female swimmer in the country to have achieved the requirements of World Aquatics. Earlier in February, she completed the 50 metre freestyle long course of Asian Age Group competition held in Philippines, which is recognised by World Aquatics, in 29.29 seconds, renewing her own record.

Now in Paris, the 21 year old swimmer is geared up and ready to take on the challenge ahead of her first heat in the competition.

"Olympics is the world's largest sporting event. I am very proud to represent Maldives in this tournament," Ulya, who started swimming at the age of eight told the Olympics Committee in an interview.

"After the last qualifying tournament, I was in Singapore when I found out I had qualified for the Olympics. It was a very happy moment."

In this year's Olympics, Ulya will be swimming in heat four of the 50 metre freestyle event, where all events are held in the long course pool.

Since being announced as an Olympics qualified athlete, Ulya broke three national records in short course events.

In the Breaker's Bing Splash 2024 held in Australia on 28th June, Ulya broke two records; one in 50 metre freestyle and the other in 50 metre butterfly event.

She broke the butterfly event's record in 31.76 seconds, taking the title from Meral Ain Latheef, who made the record last year at the Taunton Deane, Millfield and Street qualifier by finishing at 32.56 seconds.

In the freestyle event, Ulya finished at 28.81 seconds by breaking Aminath Shajan's 29.81 second record made in 2016 at the FINA world swimming championship.

Then in July 20, Ulya participated in the University of Western Australia (UWUA)'s West Coast Club Night number 7 meet and broke her own 50 metre freestyle record by finishing at 28.75 seconds.

Ulya will be swimming in her first heat of the Olympics this afternoon, competing with eight swimmers. Ulya will be swimming in the fourth heat on lane one.