Our 2013 Swammy for Female African Swimmer of the Year goes to the only swimmer to break a continental record in the past year: Farida Osman of Egypt. Osman, the Junior World Champion in this event two years ago, swam a 26.12 in the semifinals of the 50-meter butterfly at the 2013 World Championships.
That swim qualified her seventh for the championship final, making Osman the first Egyptian swimmer in history to qualify for a World Championship final. She followed that up with a respectable 26.17 in finals to match her seventh place semifinals finish. Earlier in the competition, Osman recorded a 59.85 (just off her lifetime best of 59.72) in the 100 butterfly, good for a 24th place finish.
Building off of a successful summer, Osman has had a solid beginning to her collegiate career at the University of California-Berkeley. After the initial adjustment period, Osman appears to have adjusted to a new environment and training program. She swam the fly leg on the Bears’ Winter Nationals-winning 200 medley relay, where she recorded the second fastest split in the field (23.07, only Kelsi Worrell was faster at 22.87). Osman also holds the 31st fastest time in the country in the 100-yard butterfly.
Known for her pure speed, Osman is expected to be a key contributor for the Bears this March for their 2014 title run.