OUMY DIOP: Grenoble, France’s hometown lady’s childhood objective is in sight because the Florida Worldwide College sophomore competes at 2024 Summer time Olympics. “It’s an enormous honor for me to symbolize Senegal,” she says. “For my mother and father it additionally means rather a lot.” PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Miami – Like many, it was Oumy Diop’s childhood dream to make it to the Olympics.
Diop, whose mother and father have been born in Senegal in Africa, has been competing in swimming occasions since she was 5 years previous, hoping sometime she will probably be part of the fashionable revival of the traditional video games.
Diop’s dream was well-founded when she qualified to compete within the 2024 Summer time Olympics in Paris, France.
And making it even sweeter, she has the hometown benefit.
Diop grew up and lives in Grenoble, France.
The sophomore is amongst a gaggle of Florida Worldwide College swimmers touring the world over to compete towards their counterparts from numerous international locations for the Gold Medal.
“Going to the Olympics means a lot,” stated Diop, who will compete within the 100-meter butterfly occasion.
“I nonetheless don’t absolutely notice, nonetheless haven’t absolutely wrapped my head round it. Each single day, I’m getting nearer to competing within the Olympics. I need to embrace each second that I’ll get to stay there.”
Diop will symbolize Senegal and she or he’s the one feminine swimmer from the nation to compete this yr within the Olympics.
“It’s an enormous honor for me to symbolize Senegal,” she says. “For my mother and father it additionally means rather a lot.”
Diop was named an envoy for the 2026 Youth Olympic Video games in Senegal which is able to grow to be the first Worldwide Olympic Committee occasion in Africa.
“I will probably be speaking to the youth about being an athlete,” she says of her function. “It’s such an honor for me. I need to be an inspiration for feminine athletes in my nation.”
When Diop arrived at FIU, she joined the ladies’s swim group and diving group, competing within the 50-meters, 100-meters and 200-meters freestyle, and 50-meters and 100-meters butterfly.
She set a brand new FIU freshman file within the 100-meters butterfly and delivered stellar performances in American Athletic Convention competitors.
In 2024, Diop earned 4 medals within the relays on the AAC Championships and helped the swimming and diving group win the faculty’s first convention title.
Through the 2023-2024 season, Diop’s highlights included incomes silver in 200-meters freestyle and 400-meters freestyle and she or he posted a bronze finish within the 400-meters medley relay on the AAC Championships.
As a freshman, Diop finished third within the 50-meters butterfly on the CSCAA Nationwide Invitational Championship and helped FIU finish first within the 100meters butterfly relay and fourth 100meters butterfly on the AAC Championships.
In her collegiate debut towards Florida Gulf Coast College, Diop helped FIU’s relay group to a first-place finish in each the 200-medley and 200meters freestyle.
Diop is not any stranger to competing in worldwide competitors.
She represented Senegal on the African Championships in 2021 and 2022 and gained silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Diop additionally earned two extra bronze medals on the African Video games this yr.
Diop stated her mother and father inspired her to swim as a result of she dreamed about making it to the Olympics.
She began competing in occasions when she was 5 and have become a prolific swimmer in center and excessive faculties, profitable a number of relay and particular person competitions.
“Swimming grew to become my secure place,” she says. “Within the water, it was simply me and my ideas. I didn’t have to consider college or homework.”
