While athletes in developed countries exert all their energy on guaranteeing ultimate results at the Olympic Games, others have to worry about technicalities, such as finding facilities to train in or paying travel fees.
Many Olympians, for example, have long suffered from a lack of official support and shortages in funding. Despite the increasing focus on sports, some Arab governments are still falling short of securing the requirements for their athletes' Olympic participation.
Libyan swimmer Daniah Hagul – the only female on Libya's 2016 Olympic squad – is one of many Olympians with extra weight on her shoulders ahead of this summer's Olympics. With political turmoil affecting Libya, the national swimming federation could not afford to fully cover the expenses of Hagul’s trip to Brazil. Hagul thus took matters into her own hands, relying on people's generosity, and crowdfunded her way to the Rio Olympics.
With a 1:28.59-minute finish – roughly 18 seconds slower than the qualifying A standard – Hagul received a Universality Invitation to the 100-meter breaststroke event in Rio. The national record holder was not contested to the invitation, as she was the only female Libyan swimmer to compete at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Russia, a prerequisite for the universality entry.
In December 2015, Hagul partook in the Qatar International Swimming Championships and won three gold medals at the three events she competed in.
“As far as I know, I am the only Libyan female participating in international races. I hope peace will prevail in Libya so that other girls can take up competitive swimming and may also represent Libya at future international events,” she told Libya Hirald .
Since Libya’s Swimming Federation and National Olympic Committee could not afford to pay all her expenses, Hagul launched a GoFundMe campaign titled "Help Fund Daniah’s Olympic Dream!," which raised around $7,700 in one month, according to The Next Web . Additional training, travel and medical costs were covered by her parents and local sponsors.
Growing up in Malta's large community of Libyan exiles, Hagul learned to swim at roughly 4 years old. However, she did not pursue competitive swimming until the age of 12. Hagul later enrolled in a British school, Mount Kelly, with an intensive swimming program and has been training with British Olympian Robin Brew.
"Competitive swimming for girls is new to Libya and some people are finding the concept too much of a challenge," Daniah’s mother told India Times . "A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into her swimming and it has all paid off."
Hagul said it is an honor and a privilege to represent her country at the games. She hopes to make Libya proud and inspire Libyan girls to take up swimming, regardless of social constraints. But she is particularly looking forward to meeting the world's most inspirational swimmers.
‘‘I can’t wait to meet other swimmers from all over the world and especially looking forward to seeing Michael Phelps in action and meeting Yusra Mardini, the Syrian swimmer, forming part of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team,” said Hagul. "Her story, resilience and determination are such admirable and inspirational qualities."
A second Libyan swimmer, Ahmad Attellesey, will compete at the Rio Olympics via a Universality ticket, after being invited to the men's 50-meter freestyle race.
This marks Libya's fifth participation in an Olympic swimming tournament since the nation made its Olympic debut at the Mexico 1968 Olympics.
Hagul and Attellesey will raise the Libyan flag in Brazil alongside athlete Mohammed Hariz, rower Hussein Qanbor, judoka Mohamed El-Kawisah, taekwondo competitor Yousef Shriha and archer Ali El-Ghrari. These Libyan Olympians have their eyes set on the nation's first-ever Olympic medal.