Jordan has announced Amro Al-Wir as their third and final addition to the country’s official delegation heading to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games. The country will send 14 athletes to the Games, 3 of which for the sport of swimming including Al-Wir, and brother-sister duo Talita and Khader Baqlah. From 1996 – 2016 Jordan sent 2 athletes to each Olympic Games, making this year’s team the largest Olympic swimming roster in the country’s history.
Khader Baqlah will be representing Jordan for a second time this summer while his sister Talita will be making her 3rd Olympic appearance. Both siblings raced at the Rio 2016 Games and Talita also swam at London 2012. Khader Baqlah raced the 200 freestyle in Rio and placed 31st with a 1:48.42 and Talita Baqlah swam the 50 freestyle at both Games, placing 45th with a 27.45 in 2012 and 51st with a 26.48 in 2016.
Al-Wir will join Khadar and Talita Baqlah on the roster for Tokyo 2020 and will race the men’s 200 breaststroke. Al-Wir’s current PB in the event is a 2:12.40 which he hit at the Indianapolis stop of the 2021 Pro Swim Series in May. That swim for Al-Wir was under the 2:14.26 FINA B time standard but was a little bit off the 2:10.35 FINA A cut.
Jordan first sent swimmers to the Olympic Games in 1996 when Omar Dallal and Mira Ghneim raced the men’s 400 free and women’s 200 IM, respectively. Dallal finished in 34th place overall with a 4:41.12 and Ghneim was 43rd in her event with a 2:56.99. The country sent exactly 2 swimmers to the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Games as well.
How can Jordan have two male swimmers attending if neither have met the OST? Universality allows one male and one female. I don’t believe Fina has announced any additional quota spots as yet??
Hop opp Amro
I thought only 1 male swimmer (Amro) and 1 female (Talita) were going.
Awesome!!