Higinio Ndong Obama Nkara (born 19 September 1998) is an Equatoguinean swimmer. He competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics and served as his country's co-flag bearer at the opening ceremony.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 19, 1998 Mbomo Esisis, Niefang, Equatorial Guinea |
| Height | 169 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Equatorial Guinea |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Freestyle |
| Club | Malabo Swimming Club |
| Coach | Florencio Engono |
Biography
editObama was born on 19 September 1998 in Niefang, Equatorial Guinea, in the village of Mbomo Esisis.[1][2] He grew up in the country and became a competitive swimmer in 2013.[2] A member of the Malabo Swimming Club, and coached by Florencio Engono,[3] he regularly competed in short-distance events – including the 50 metres in freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly stroke, and in the 100 metres in freestyle.[2][4] He won the gold medal at the district championships in 2019.[2]
Obama was selected to make his international debut at the 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m), although he ended up being a non-starter in both his scheduled events, the 50m and 100m freestyle.[5] He competed at the 2022 African Swimming Championships as one of only two Equatoguineans.[6] He also participated at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in the 50m freestyle, being unable to advance past his heat with a time of 29.48 seconds, although a personal best.[4][5] He competed for Equatorial Guinea at the 2023 African Games, hosted in Accra, and set a personal best time in the 50m butterfly at 32.54s, only eight hundredths of a second slower than the national record, although he placed fourth in his heat and failed to advance.[7]
Obama was selected for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, although he was a non-starter in both events he was chosen for, and was selected for the 2024 African Swimming Championships in four events.[5] In July 2024, Obama received a universality selection to participate at the 2024 Summer Olympics, being one of only three Equatoguineans invited and the only swimmer.[8] Along with Sefora Ada Eto, Obama served as the co-flag bearer for his country at the opening Olympic ceremony.[9] At the Olympics, he competed in the 50m freestyle event as part of heat two.[10][11][12] He placed third in his heat with a time of 28.42, setting a personal best and the national record, although he failed to advance to the semifinals.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ "Higinio Ndong Obama". Eurosport.
- ^ a b c d "🌟 Presentamos a Higinio Ndong Obama Nkara: Nuestro Orgullo Olímpico en Natación 🌟" [🌟 Introducing Higinio Ndong Obama Nkara: Our Olympic Swimming Pride 🌟] (in Spanish). Olympic Committee of Equatorial Guinea. 2 July 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ "JJ.OO 24: HIGINIO NDONG, RECIBIDO COMO UN HÉROE A SU REGRESO AL PAÍS" [Olympic Games 24: HIGINIO NDONG, RECEIVED AS A HERO ON HIS RETURN TO THE COUNTRY]. Huella Deportiva (in Spanish). 7 August 2024.
- ^ a b Ondo Ndong, Alfredo (29 July 2024). "¿Cuándo debutará Guinea Ecuatorial en los Juegos Olímpicos de París 2024?" [When will Equatorial Guinea debut at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?]. La Gaceta de Guinea Ecuatorial (in Spanish).
- ^ a b c "Higinio Ndong Obama". World Aquatics.
- ^ Edu Mbuy, Fernando Abeso (23 May 2022). "Dos atletas ecuatoguineanos viajan a Senegal para participar en el Campeonato Africano de Natación" [Two Equatoguinean athletes travel to Senegal to participate in the African Swimming Championships]. Real Equatorial Guinea (in Spanish).
- ^ "Juegos Africanos 2023: el nadador Higinio Ndong mejora su marca personal" [African Games 2023: swimmer Higinio Ndong improves his personal best]. Milaang (in Spanish). 11 March 2024.
- ^ Peluffo, Santiago (11 July 2024). "Guinea Ecuatorial en los Juegos Olímpicos: atletas, fechas clave y cómo verlos en París 2024" [Equatorial Guinea at the Olympic Games: athletes, key dates and how to see them in Paris 2024]. Olympics.com (in Spanish).
- ^ "Paris 2024 | Opening ceremony flagbearers information" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 26 July 2024.
- ^ Abel, Allen (1 August 2024). "Allen Abel: How 'Eric the Eel' had one bad swim and became an enduring Olympic legend". National Post.
- ^ "Juegos Olímpicos Paris: ¡Higinio Ndong Obama supera su marca, pero no avanza a la siguiente ronda en natación!" [Paris Olympic Games: Higinio Ndong Obama surpasses his record, but does not advance to the next round in swimming!]. Milaang (in Spanish). 1 August 2024.
- ^ Engonga Ngui, Benjamín (3 August 2024). "HIGINIO NDONG DEBUTA CON ORGULLO EN LOS JUEGOS OLÍMPICOS, PERO NO SE CLASIFICA" [HIGINIO NDONG PROUDLY DEBUTS IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES, BUT DOES NOT QUALIFY]. Huella Deportiva (in Spanish).
- ^ Angüe Esodja, Sinforosa Nkene (2 August 2024). "JJOO París 2024: el nadador Higinio Nkogo Obama se queda fuera de la siguiente ronda de 50 metros a pesar de lograr el tercer puesto en su serie" [Paris 2024 Olympics: swimmer Higinio Nkogo Obama is left out of the next round of 50 meters despite achieving third place in his heat]. Real Equatorial Guinea (in Spanish).
- ^ Oyono Nkene, Gabriel Ebang (1 August 2024). "JJ.OO Paris 2024: El nadador Higinio Ndong Obama mejora la marca olímpica del país logrando la tercera posición en los 50 metros libres" [Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Swimmer Higinio Ndong Obama improves the country's Olympic record by achieving third position in the 50 meter freestyle]. Ahora EG (in Spanish).