Pakistani swimmer and Loughborough College student Lianna Swan has been named as one of two swimmers heading to Rio this summer to compete for Pakistan at the Olympic Games.
In February this year the 19-year-old along with her fellow teammates travelled to India to represent Pakistan in the twelfth South Asian Games.
Lianna, who has only been swimming for 7 years, won gold in the 200m-breast stroke swimming competition bringing home one of the 12 golds for her country in the 11 days.
In an interview with Pukaar News shortly after her return from the Games she described how incredible the atmosphere was and the breathtaking experience.
“It was an amazing experience, it was the first time that I had ever won an international medal or an international gold for Pakistan so I was really proud of myself,” said Lianna.
“I am very happy swimming for the Pakistan team and hopefully I can go as far as I can with them.
“I just want to see how far I can take my swimming, it’s the Olympic year so who knows!” – it’s as if she predicted it!
It is said that the Pakistan Swimming Federation selected their athletes based on their FINA points that they had earned during the 16th World Swimming Championships in Russia in the summer of 2015 in the Olympic Qualification Round.
At the Championships Lianna collected 1046, the most out of her four team mates, with 479 points picked up in the 50m breaststroke and 567 in the 50m freestyle.
Lianna will be joined in Rio by one other team mate.
This being her first Olympic Games we are sure that Lianna is very much looking forward to competing, so we wish her and the rest of the Pakistan team the very best of luck.
By Imogen Harry
