Anum Bandey broke her Pakistan record at the Aquatic Centre in London today, competing in the Women’s 400m Individual Medley, but bowed out of the Olympic Games after falling short of a place in the final.
The 15-year-old Bandey, who along with runner Rabia Ashiq was the only other female participant from Pakistan, competed in the first heat of the event this morning but her time of 5.34.64 saw her finish fourth out of the four in her race.
Her time, however, was over two seconds quicker than her qualifying effort (5.37.11), meaning the teenager set a new national record.
“You can learn a lot from here. I have learnt a lot from the older athletes. I am still young - I’m 15,” she said while talking to Northern Echo.
On competing in her first Olympic Games, she added: “It was amazing. I was really nervous at the start.
“I had to break the national record which I did but I have been preparing for a year and to compete with all of these amazing athletes is an amazing experience.
“It’s one I will remember for a long time.”
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