August 19, 2024
THIMPHU – Before heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics in France, Bhutanese athletes were determined to break their personal records. With the Olympics coming to a close, they have returned home, each carrying a unique experience, and their dreams to participate in the Olympics fulfilled.
Competing in a field of 64 archers, recurve archer Lam Dorji, 28, set a new personal best with a score of 663, surpassing his previous high of 644. But he faced a tough fight in the knockout round, losing 7-3 to Italy’s Alessandro Paoli.
Recurve archer Lam Dorji. PHOTO: KUENSEL
“Participating in the Olympics is an unparalleled experience. Being among the world’s elite athletes was a moment of immense pride for me,” he said.
Swimmer Sangay Tenzin, 20, also returned with a sense of achievement. In his second Olympic appearance, he competed in the men’s 100-metre freestyle. Finishing third with a time of 56.08 seconds, he ranked 74th out of 79 swimmers.
Swimmer Sangay Tenzin, 20, also returned with a sense of achievement. In his second Olympic appearance, he competed in the men’s 100-metre freestyle. Finishing third with a time of 56.08 seconds, he ranked 74th out of 79 swimmers. PHOTO: KUENSEL
While his time fell short of his personal best of 55.42 seconds, Sangay Tenzin’s performance was an improvement over his previous Olympic contest in Tokyo, where he clocked 57.57 seconds in the 100-metre freestyle.
“The experience in Paris was incredible,” he said. “The organisers made sure every athlete feel comfortable. Competing alongside the best from around the world was truly inspiring.”
Runner Kinzang Lhamo, 25, finished 80th out of 91 runners in the 42km marathon, completing the race in 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds. Her personal best, achieved during the Bhutan International Marathon in March, stands at 3 hours and 26 minutes.
She attributed her Olympic performance to a recent injury. “I didn’t achieve my personal best because I was injured for a week before leaving for Paris.”
RBA’s Lungtenphu Hospital, the Bhutan Olympic Committee, and the Bhutan Amateur Athletic Federation provided her with full medical attention to participate in the race.
“The 42km marathon was challenging as I was competing with world-class athletes. I didn’t have much time to practice. The opportunity to represent my country made me proud,” she said.
She said that many people across the world cheered her on during the race, which made her Olympic debut memorable. “As I was pushing towards my goal, Bhutanese people in Paris encouraged me to keep running. They ran alongside me, holding the Bhutanese flag, which motivated me to carry on,” she said.