The Universiade Sports Center Aquatic Complex, where swimming action takes place (Photo by Gergő Kodrucz)
SHENZHEN – Tanzanian swimmer, Magdalena Ruth Moshi, has started her first swimming competition yesterday for the 26th Summer Universiade.
Moshi, the only Tanzanian representative in the swimming competition finished third in her heat, clocking a 1:05:39 but unfortunately didn’t qualify for the finals.
In a packed stadium of the Universiade Sports Center Aquatic Complex, Moshi, who also participated in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, has represented Tanzaniain various international competitions, including the World Championships in 2007, the Commonwealth Games in 2010, and the World Championships in 2011 and the World Championships Short Course in 2010.
Aside of her vast experience in swimming, Moshi who started swimming for the national team since 2007, faced stiff challenge, as some participants are Olympic medallists, which proved itself by a Chinese swimmer, Tang Yi, who broke the Universiade records for 54:24.
Speaking of her swimming career, Moshi said, it is very hard balancing training and studying, but with all the hard work, ‘it is worthy presenting my country and seeing all these people have come to cheer up.’ She also sees the swimming in Tanzania growing.
Moshi, a second year student of bachelor of Health Sciences at Australia University, will be swimming again on August 18th on the 50m freestyle.
(Source: Mwita Mwaikenda, AIPS Young Reporter/TAN)
