Despite being blocked from using one of the many Olympic training facilities in Israel due to her Palestinian citizenship, Mary al-Atrash will be participating in the upcoming Olympics in Rio. This upcoming Palestinian delegation to the Olympics will be the largest since 1996, and looks to see its members do well in a variety of events. Al-Atrash will be competing in the 50 meter freestyle, and looks forward to representing Palestine and showing that despite being trained without access to Olympic facilities, she has overcome the obstacles.
Palestinian swimmer Mary al-Atrash can’t wait to make a splash at the Rio Olympics in August, but participation, rather than a podium finish, is probably the best she can hope for.
Atrash competes in the 50 metres freestyle but her best time of 29.91 seconds is more than four seconds slower than the Olympic qualifying threshold of 25.28 seconds, in itself almost two seconds behind the world record.