Mashael Alayed Makes Olympic History for Saudi Arabia

Mashael Alayed has made history as the first female swimmer from Saudi Arabia to compete in the Olympics, finishing sixth in the women's 200-meter freestyle heats at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a personal best time of 2:19.61. The 17-year-old, who has been swimming since age six, has gained significant attention and is seen as an icon in her country, which has recently made strides in integrating women into sports. Despite not advancing to the semi-finals, her participation has been praised by notable figures such as Princess Reema bint Bandar, highlighting the importance of her achievement in breaking barriers for female athletes in Saudi Arabia. Critics have raised concerns about the concept of sportswashing in Saudi Arabia, but Alayed expressed positivity about the changes in her country. Her success and visibility are viewed as inspiration for future generations of female athletes. The Saudi swimming federation emphasized that her participation signals the potential and ambitions of Saudi sports.