University of California Athletics

Inside the Lair feature - Farida Osman: A Pioneer in Egyptian Swimming
 

OLYMPICS

• Competed in the 50m free and 100m fly at the 2016 Olympics in Rio
• Finished 18th in the 50m free (24.91) and 11th in the 100m fly (57.83), setting African records in both events
• Was the only Egyptian female swimmer to qualify and compete at the 2012 London Olympics, placing 41st in the 50m free with a time of 26.34

CALIFORNIA SUCCESS

• Completed her career as the school-record holder in the 50 free (21.32), while ranking third in school history in the 100 free (47.07) and second in the 100 fly (50.05). Also swam on four relays that held school records through her senior year (200 and 400 free relay; 200 and 400 medley relay)
• Won her first individual NCAA title at the 2017 national championships, capturing the 100 fly in a PR 50.05
• Also anchored Cal’s 200 free relay and 200 medley relay to NCAA crowns and swam anchor on the third-place 400 free relay that set a school record
• In addition to the 100 fly, placed fifth in the 100 free (PR 47.07) and fourth in the 50 free at the 2017 NCAA meet
• At the 2017 Pac-12 Championships, finished second in the 50 free (21.49), second in the 100 fly (50.40) and third in the 100 free (47.36) in addition to swimming on four runner-up relays – 200 and 400 free relay and 200 and 400 medley relay
• Served as a team co-captain for the 2016-17 season
• Named Cal's Most Outstanding Swimmer for 2015-16 and was co-recipient of Cal's Most Improved Swimmer Award in 2015
• A 2016 CSCAA Scholar All-American and honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic choice
• At the 2016 NCAA Championships, led off Cal's winning 200 free relay and finished as the national runner-up in the 50 free (21.46); also took third in the 100 fly (50.76) and seventh in the 100 free (47.63) and anchored Cal's 200 medley relay (2nd) and 400 free relay (6th)
• Captured a pair of Pac-12 titles at the 2016 meet in the 50 free (school-record 21.32) and 100 fly (50.53) while also taking second in the 100 free (47.20) and swimming on the 200 medley relay (2nd), the 200 free relay (1st), the 400 medley relay (2nd) and 400 free relay (3rd)
• Swam anchor on two NCAA champion relays her sophomore year in 2015 - 200 free relay and 200 medley relay; also anchor on Cal's runner-up 400 free relay
• Individually, placed fourth in the 50 free (21.68), fourth in the 100 fly (50.94) and tied for seventh in the 100 free (47.88) at the 2015 NCAA meet
• At the 2015 Pac-12 Championships, captured the conference title in the 50 free, swimming 21.65; also second in the 100 fly (51.14) and third in the 100 free (47.96). On relays, helped the Bears to wins in the 200 free relay and 200 medley relay and to a runner-up finish in the 400 free relay
• At the 2014 NCAA Championships, swam anchor on Cal’s second-place 200 free relay as well as on the Bears’ third-place 400 free relay; individually, reached the 100 fly final, placing eighth in 52.25, and just missed scoring in the 50 free with a 17th-place performance in prelims (22.20)
• At the Pac-12 meet, took fourth in the 50 free (22.11), won the B final of the 100 fly (52.36) and was 10th in the 100 free (48.38)
• Earned the team’s Most Improved award for 2014

INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS

• Represented her native Egypt at the 2015 FINA World Championships, placed fifth in the 50m fly final in an African-record 25.78; also 17th in the 100 fly (58.22), 26th in the 100m free (55.46) and tied for 19th in the 50m free (25.22)
• Had an active meet at the 2013 FINA World Championships. Reached the final of the 50m fly, finishing seventh in 26.17, and set an African record in the semifinals with a time of 26.12 (since broken); also 24th in the 100m fly (59.85) and 40th in the 100m free (56.84)
• At the 2010 FINA World Short-Course Championships, took 41th in the 100m free (57.34), 43rd in the 50m back (30.49), 33rd in the 50m fly (27.48), 42nd in the 100m fly (1:02.15) and 46th in the 100m IM (1:07.52)
• Won a gold medal in the 50m fly with a meet-record time of 26.69 among her 11 swims at the 2011 World Junior Swimming Championships in Lima, Peru, becoming the first Egyptian woman to win a gold medal at the meet.
• Competed at the Mediterranean Games in Turkey in 2013
• Set International Schools Sports Tournament records in 50m, 100m, and 200m free and 100m fly
• Egyptian national record holder in 50m and 100m free and fly

PERSONAL

• Media studies major
• Born on Jan. 18, 1995 in Indianapolis, Ind.
• Parents are Randa Elsalawy and Hisham Osman. Both parents are dentists and graduated from IUPUI in Indianapolis.
• Her brother, Ahmed, graduated from Cal in 2013 with a degree in industrial engineering