Aniqah Gaffoor’s Olympic Games end in disappointment

Tokyo 2020

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Aniqah Gaffoor finished 2nd in the 1st heat of the Women’s 100m Butterfly at the Tokyo Aquatic Center earlier today (24).

17-year-old Gaffoor’s coach Miguel Lopez had expressed ahead of the games that the youngster will be aiming at a National Record in the event. However, unfortunately, Gaffoor finished with a timing of 1:05.33, short of her Personal Best and National Record mark of 1:04.58.

33 swimmers competing in 5 heats; 16 swimmers progressed through to the semi-finals, with Yufei Zhang of China registering the fastest time (55.82). 

Gaffoor was drawn alongside fellow wildcards Mariam Sheikhalizadehkhanghah of Azerbaijan and Yusra Mardini of the Refugee Olympic Team in Heat No. 1. Sheikhalizadehkhanghah finished well ahead of the 2 others, with a time of 1:01.37.

Gaffoor’s performance earned her 32nd place overall and therefore did not make it through to the semi-finals.