Two girls studying in Dubai schools, Karin Belbeisi and Christina Rach, have qualified for the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
After years of swim training, 15-year-old Belbeisi and 16-year-old Rach will compete for their nations this summer.
Karin Belbeisi, a member of the elite swimming programme at GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail, will represent her home country Jordan in the 400-metre freestyle event. She said: “I am so excited to represent Jordan at the Paris Olympics. It is a dream come true!”
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She participated in the 19th Singapore Nationals, where she recorded a series of lifetime bests in the 400m individual medley, 400m freestyle and 800m freestyle, securing her selection for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Sprint swimmer Christina Rach, a sports scholar at GEMS Wellington International School, will swim in the 50-metre freestyle event for Eritrea.
“To reach the highest stage this sport offers is the ultimate reward of the work I’ve put in, and to do it with other swimmers who I have trained with in the past is an extra bonus. I will be swimming 50m freestyle and I’m extremely excited to represent my country – and do myself, my coach, my parents, and teammates proud.”
In February 2024, she travelled to Doha to compete in the World Aquatics Championships. It was there that she swam a personal best in the 50m freestyle and secured her qualification for the Paris Games.