A University of Chicago swimmer is set to become the first female swimmer in Haiti’s Olympic history, according to a Shannon Ryan story in the Chicago Tribune.
Naomy Grand’Pierre, a junior for the Maroons, began swimming with far less competitive goals than the Olympics; Her mother had three relatives who died in drowning accidents, and wanted to help her children avoid that fate.
One of five children both to Haitian parents, the Atlanta-raised Grand’Pierre tried to achieve a qualifying time through two competitions but didn’t reach her goal. Fortunately, she booked her trip to Rio through the IOC’s universality rule.