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The Kenyan Swimming Federation has selected Danilo Rosafio and Emily Muteti to represent the country at the Tokyo Olympics.
The announcement was made this week. The federation had narrowed the field to 13 finalists in February before taking one man and one woman on the basis of FINA rankings. The federation published its selection procedures in a memo to athletes and coaches in January.
Rosafio’s performance in the 100 freestyle at World Juniors in 2019 was worth 730 FINA points. He went 52.09, finishing 44th. Muteti’s 698 points in the women’s 50 free at the All-Africa Games in 2019 earned her spot.
Rosafio and Muteti both competed at the 2019 World Championships. Rosafio was 69th in the 50 free and 83rd in the 100 free. Muteti finished tied for 45th in the 50 free and 40th in the 100 fly. Neither of Kenya’s Olympians in Rio – men’s backstroker Hamdan Bayusuf and women’s backstroker Talisa Laone – were among the finalists considered.
Rosafio, 19, trains at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom with coach Gareth McNary. He swam at Bandari Swimming Club in in Kenya.
Muteti swims at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Muteti won the WAC Championship in the 100 fly last month. She was third in the 50 free and second in the 100 free. She was also part of conference title-winning relays in the 200 medley and 200 free.
Both swimmers will remain at their training bases until Tokyo. Fakhry Mansoor will be the team’s head coach.
