Icelandic swimmer Hrafnhildur Lúthersdóttir finished 6th in the 100 m breaststroke final at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro last night, RÚV reports. Her time was 1:07, 18, while her Icelandic national record is 1:06,45.
“I’m very pleased with this; I went up by one place, which is always good. This may not have been the time I wanted, and I was about to die at the end, but I entered the race with the thought that no matter what happens, I’m among the world’s top eight; even if I come in last, I’ll be 8th. I did my best; of course I dreamt of doing better and winning a medal, of course you do, but I’m very happy with this.”
Finishing 6th means that this was the third best result at Olympic Games for an Icelandic female. Only Vala Flosadóttir, who received bronze in pole vault in 2000 and Þórey Edda Elísdóttir, who finished fifth in pole vault in 2004, have done better. Hrafnhildur is also the first Icelandic female swimmer to compete at Olympic finals.
Hrafnhildur looks forward to competing in the 200 m breaststroke. “I’ve always done better in the 200 m. I also know that if I don’t quite have the speed, then I have the endurance for the 200 m, and then I hope to be able to execute it well and do as well [as today], if not better.” She competes in Heat 3 at 4:57 pm local time on Wednesday.
