Ten-year-old Bahraini supertalent races at world swimming championships

The Bahraini caused a splash at the Kazan pool on Friday morning when she raced in the women’s 50m butterfly heats.

The tiny Middle Eastern schoolgirl finished last in her heat after swimming 41.13 seconds, nine behind the heat winner, and is believed to be the youngest swimmer to have ever swum at a world championships.

Overall, she was 15 secs off the fastest time of 25.43 secs, set by Sjostorm, the world record-holder, who swam in a later heat, and was last of the 64 competitors who raced in the event.

Tareq caused a stir in the media mixed zone as reporters clamoured to interview the pint-sized swimmer, who coped admirably with the television cameras’ glare and answered all questions in crystal-clear English.

“I’m happy, I feel so happy. It was really cool,” she beamed when asked what it was like to swim against adults here.