Egypt's Farida Osman signs autographs for fans at the Gezira club in Cairo on Wednesday
Back to the place where she learned her trade, Egypt’s butterfly specialist Farida Osman was honoured by Cairo's Gezira Sporting Club on Wednesday after winning the country’s first-ever World Championship medal.
Osman made history when she won the bronze medal in the 50m butterfly event at the World Championship in Budapest last month, earning widespread acclaim back home for her rapid progression.
She was surrounded by fans and young swimming enthusiasts at the Gezira club, posing for photographs with her admirers and signing autographs.
Osman linked up with her former coaches and took many selfies with members of the club’s synchronized swimming and water polo teams.
Having started swimming in the club at the age of four, Osman represented Egypt at the 2011 FINA junior World Championships before becoming an Olympian at only 17 when she was invited at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
She finished seventh at the World Championships in 2013 before leaving Gezira for the University of California in the same year to train with the Cal team.
Two years later, she finished fifth in the 50m fly at the 2015 World Championship after clocking 25.78 seconds, an African record at the time. She still holds the African record with a 25.39 seconds finish in Budapest.
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