EGYPT'S swimming sensation Farida Osman has been selected by Forbes Middle East as one of the 30 most influential people from the region under the age of 30. “Thank you for featuring me alongside such inspiring group of men and women,” Osman posted on her Instagram account. Forbes posted this: “Farida Osman is a professional swimmer and has represented Egypt twice at the Olympic Games, becoming the first ever Egyptian to bag two medals at the World Championships. Her driving force and motivation is breaking barriers and stereotypes in Africa and the Middle East. In the entire history of the Olympic Games only five African women have won a medal in swimming.” Osman was born in Indianapolis but raised in Cairo before a stellar career at the University of California. The 25-year-old graduated as the school's record-holder in the 50 freestyle and won the 2017 NCAA Championship in the 100 butterfly. She was also part of relays that set four school records and won five NCAA titles. Osman was named the 2017 Swimming World African Female Swimmer of the Year. She competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, making the 100 fly semi-finals in the latter. She won bronze medals at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships in the 50 butterfly, among a slew of continental and international championship medals. Osman competed in the International Swimming League with the L A Current last season. *A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
