Ugandan swimmer Gloria Muzito has broken the national record in the Women’s 100m Freestyle.
Muzito, who was one of Uganda’s flag bearers during the Olympic opening ceremony on July 26, finished eighth in Heat 4 at the 2024 Paris Olympics today.
Despite coming last, she clocked 55.95 seconds, surpassing her previous national record of 56.01 seconds set earlier this year at the African Games.
Her previous record of 56.01 seconds earned her a bronze medal at the African Games in March 2024, in Ghana.
Muzito was the only African competing in Heat 4 of the Women’s 100 Metre Freestyle at this year’s Olympics.
The race saw Siobhan Bernadette Haughey from Hong Kong clinch the gold medal with a time of 53.02 seconds while Marrit Steenbergen from the Netherlands took silver with a time of 53.22 seconds.
Torri Huske from the USA secured the bronze, finishing in 53.53 seconds.
Kayla Sanchez from the Philippines, Marie Wattel from France, Wu Qingfeng from China, and Neza Klancar from Slovenia came 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th with times of 53.67, 53.70, 54.03, and 54.12 seconds respectively.
Muzito’s time of 55.95 seconds placed her eighth in her heat and 22nd overall out of 29 participants, and it was not sufficient for a spot in the semi-finals.
Only the top 16 swimmers have advanced to the semi-finals, which scheduled to take place tonight, with the first semi-final starting at 10:33 pm.
Muzito becomes the first Ugandan to bow out of this year’s Olympics.
