13-year-old Gaurika Singh, who survived an earthquake in her native Nepal, will possibly be the youngest swimmer to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics when she takes to the pool for the women's 100 metres backstroke heats on Sunday, says a report in The Times Of India. According to the report, Gaurika wasn’t sure if she would be able to go because of her age. “When I found out a month ago, it was a big shock,” she said.
But it was nothing like the shock she experienced when the youngster, who moved to England with her family when she was two, and her mother and sister found themselves at the heart of the earthquake that struck Nepal when she returned to her home country in April last year to take part in the national championship. "It was terrifying. We were on the fifth floor of a building (in the capital Kathmandu) that we couldn't escape from. Fortunately, it was a new building so it did not collapse like others around," she added.
According to a report in Repulica, Gaurika has been training at Copthall Swimming Club under coaches Rhys Gormley and Christine Green. She became the first Nepali player to win individual medal in the SAG swimming in February winning four medals. She claimed silver in 200 m individual medley and bronze medals in 200 m and 100 m backstroke and 400 m freestyle.
She has competed in FINA World Championship in Kazan, Russia and FINA Swimming World Cup in Dubai last year. Gaurika holds 10 national records under her belt.
