Zambian swimmer Damien Shamambo says he is hoping to set a historic record for the country at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In March this year, Shamambo broke the national record when he finishing with an impressive time of 23.86 seconds in the 50 metres freestyle at the 2023 African Games held in Accra, Ghana.
The 24-year-old is heading to the Summer Games as one of only two swimmers representing the country alongside Mia Phiri, in the women’s category.
Speaking in an interview with Diamond TV from his Thailand base on Monday, Shamambo said he had his sights set on beating his previous finishing time to set a new record for Zambia on the global stage.
“I just want to improve my time and swim the fastest I’ve ever swam before and make an impact by doing what no other Zambian swimmer has ever done before and just give my everything,” he said.
“There’ll be no excuses, no holding back. I just want to go out there and show them what Zambians have to offer and then see where we will rank on the world stages. It is something that would go down in the history books for us Zambians, so I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.
Shamambo also called on Zambians to rally their support behind the athletes representing the nation at the Summer Games.
“To the fans, keep believing in us, keep cheering us on, keep supporting us because your support really does go a long way. It really does motivate us as athletes to give that extra bit more,” he stated.
Zambia will be sending a total of 28 athletes to take part in five different sporting disciplines at the Paris 2024 Olympics set to get underway on July 26.
