Three UMBC swimming and diving athletes have qualified for their respective country’s Olympic Trials and will be attempting to join the national team for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games to be held in London, England.
Junior Mohamed Hussein (Cairo, Egypt/Victory College) has already made the Egyptian squad for the 100-meter freestyle and will swim again in May to attempt to qualify for more events. Recently Hussein broke Egypt’s national record in the 200 IM with a time of 2:05.49.
Attempting to make the South African team, junior Pierre De Waal (Pretoria, South Africa/Tuks Sport/Cleveland State) will fly back to his home country on April 13 for their Olympic Trials. De Waal will compete for a spot in the 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyle events, in addition to his best event, the 200m butterfly.
Perhaps the most unlikely contender comes from the United States of America. Two years after convincing Cradock to give him a walk-on spot at UMBC, sophomore Patrick Husson (Camp Springs, Md./DeMatha) has qualified for the US Olympic Trials for the 200m breaststroke, while missing the cut for the 100m breast event by less than one second. The time trial meet will be held in June with the top two swimmers, out of a field of over 100 athletes, making the cut for London.
Coming to UMBC in the fall of 2007, Husson was not recruited by any colleges while in high school. He came to Baltimore mainly for the academic possibilities at UMBC, but did not want to give up swimming. Talking to Cradock immediately at the start of his freshman year, Husson earned a one-month trial period to show the coaches he had what it takes to be on the Retriever squad. With no promises made, Husson worked for the month period, and in early October he was rewarded with what he coveted, a spot on the UMBC roster.
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