Namutebi sets new national record at FINA World Championship
Aug 26, 2019
She also registered personal bests in the 50m fly, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke races
Kirabo Namutebi has received plaudits from the swimming fraternity and many other Ugandans following her superb performance at the 7th FINA World Swimming Championship that ended on Sunday in Hungary.
The 14-year-old British School of Uganda, Dolphins Swim Club and national swimmer did not only achieve personal bests in all her races but set a new national record when she clocked 26.98 in the 50m freestyle race.
She bettered Jamila Lunkuse's 27.43 set in 2014 over the same distance by 1.45 seconds as she became Uganda's first swimmer in recent times to win a heat at the World Championships.
"At British School of Kampala, we join the rest of the world to celebrate Kirabo Namutebi's excellent performance. Listening to that gentleman (commentator) pronounce her name, and repeatedly pronounce her country of origin; yes we all feel good," a social media post from Marianne Ndyanabo stated.
"To you Kirabo, not only are you a great swimmer but a very reliable and hardworking prefect and a focused learner in class. Keep balanced; you will get to the moon,"
Despite her time being 2.27 second shy of USA's Warsh Gretchen who won gold over the distance, Namutebi beat nine other swimmers from different countries in her heat and finished 38th overall out of 102 swimmers who swam that race.
She also registered personal bests in the 50m fly, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke races.
Uganda's other swimmers Adnan Kabuye and Darren Ssamula also registered personal bests in the 50m freestyle race.
Race times by Ugandans in Hungary
Kirabo Namutebi
50m Breast: 35.22
100m Freestyle: 1:01.39
50m Freestyle: 26.98
50m Butterfly: 25.70
Darren Ssamula
100m Butterfly: 1:07.88
100m Freestyle: 59.24
50m Butterfly: 28.96
Adnan Kabuye
50m Butterfly: 27.95
50m Freestyle: 25.99