Female swimmer challenges Libyan taboos

Few Libyan women would wear a swimming costume in public, but Daniah Hagul wants to help change a conservative society when she competes at the Rio Olympics.

“In Libya a significant number of boys but hardly any other girls swim, so I hope that they watch me and are inspired to do the same,” said the 17-year-old.

Libya has a 1,770-kilometre (1,100-mile) coastline, but on top of social pressures and political strife that followed the 2011 revolt against dictator Moamer Kadhafi, swimming pools and clubs are almost non-existent.

The budget of the Libyan Swimming Federation is severely limited.

Hagul will be the first female swimmer to represent Libya in the Olympics since the revolution. “It’s such an honour and a privilege and I can’t wait to do my country proud,” she said.

Hagul has won medals in international competitions and qualified for last year’s World Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Hagul’s rise owes much to her parents’ decision to move to Malta in the 1990s. Many Liby-ans live in exile on the Mediter-ranean island. “In Malta it gets really hot in the summer. Everyone is always either in the pool or in the sea and everyone has to know how to swim.

“So I began swimming lessons just to know how to swim at about the age of three or four. And when I was 12 I just decided that I wanted to take it up properly, competitively.”

Her father Bashir said living outside of Libya made it possible for Hagul to compete internationally.

Bashir and his wife Samira hope that their daughter can help change mentalities in their country. “Competitive swimming for girls is new to Libya and some people are finding the concept too much of a challenge,” said Samira. “However, I truly believe it all starts with parents who should challenge rigid mindsets.”