Talita Baqlah breaks Jordan record in Rio

AMMAN — Talita Baqlah has emulated the achievements of her younger brother by breaking a Jordan swimming record on Friday at the Olympic pool in Rio de Janeiro, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

The 20-year old clocked 26.48 in heat six for the 50m freestyle, breaking her old mark of 26.57 set last month. She finished third in her heat but her time won’t be fast enough for her to advance to the semifinals.

It was a super swim from the youngster that matched the achievement of 17-year-old Khader who broke the 200m Jordan freestyle record on Sunday. “I am absolutely thrilled to bits,” said Talita, who is competing at her second Olympics having swam a then personal best of 27.45 seconds in London four years ago.

“I feel that this is a message to all the girls in Jordan that if you really want something you should go for it as your dreams can come true.” Talita’s time wasn’t quick enough to secure progress as a sub-25-second swim was required, but, like Khader, the Jordan gap has once again closed on the world’s fastest swimmers.