tag

Gretchen Walsh broke the women's 50m freestyle world record on Sunday at the Sette Colli International Trophy in Rome, lowering a mark that had already been beaten this month.The 23-year-old clocked 23.55 seconds, breaking the ⁠previous record of 23.59 set by fellow American Kate Douglass earlier this month ⁠at a US Pro Swim Series event in Indianapolis.In May, Walsh bettered her own 100m butterfly world record for the third time in a year, posting 54.33 seconds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.With the 50m freestyle mark, Walsh has now broken a world record 21 times.She also got two relay gold medals at the 2024 Paris ⁠Olympics and won her first individual long-course world title in July last year at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where she took gold in the women's 100m butterfly."I would feel a lot of regret if I left the time like this on the table and never was able to go (at) it again, so I say the more the merrier," Walsh told swimming ⁠news outlet SwimSwam after breaking her newest ⁠record."I'm going to ⁠keep trying to break world records in everything because that's what it takes to be at the level that I'm at."Walsh is viewed as a top contender for the U.S. heading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with multiple world records and a world championship already to her name."Maybe some eyes will be on me more so than ever now and I'm ready for the challenge to handle that pressure especially at a home Olympics, so I'm here, bring it on!" she added. 

Qatar Foundation (QF)’s Ability Friendly programme, under Pre-University Education, organised a two-day swimming competition aimed at promoting inclusion through sport and empowering people with disabilities.The competition brought together around 70 participants and their families as part of an initiative that reflects Ability Friendly programme and its commitment to providing sports and recreational activities that offer participants equal opportunities to showcase their skills and build self-confidence.The event was sponsored by Sasol, reaffirming its commitment to empowering people with disabilities.The partnership with the QF aims to promote sports as a platform for rehabilitation, empowerment, and community inclusion.“At Sasol, we believe that true progress is measured not only by innovation and growth, but by how inclusive and equitable our communities become,” said Sasol vice-president (Qatar Country Management) Lourens Jacobs.“Through our long-standing collaboration with Qatar Foundation and our Accessible Qatar initiative, we continue to champion opportunities that empower every individual to participate fully and equally in society,” he said. “This Ability Friendly Swimming Competition reflects a shared belief that when barriers are removed, talent, courage, and determination shine through.”Jacobs emphasised that sport serves as a universal language, one that celebrates ability, strengthens communities, and inspires change.He highlighted that the athletes competing in the event demonstrate that inclusion is not about accommodation, but about creating environments where everyone can excel.Aisha Jassim al-Ali, the mother of Jassim al-Sulaiti, one of the participants with autism, said: “For Jassim, swimming has become a source of confidence and independence. He joined the Ability Friendly programme eight years ago, and since then, we’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation in his personality, one that has had a positive impact on his daily life, behaviour, and self-confidence.”“The Ability Friendly programme is a true outlet for our children,” she said. “It’s no longer just about playing sports for recreation, but about preparing champions who can compete in local tournaments.”“Today, I see Jassim competing alongside his peers with confidence and pride,” al-Ali added.