| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Higinio Ndong Obama Nkara |
| Born | 19 September 1998 Mbom-Esisis, Niefang , Equatorial Guinea |
| Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Equatorial Guinea |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Freestyle |
| Club | Malabo Swimming Club |
| Coach | Florencio Engono |
Higinio Ndong Obama Nkara (born 19 September 1998) is an Equatoguinean swimmer. He competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics and served as his country's co-flag bearer at the opening ceremony.
Ndong was born on 19 September 1998 in the village of Mbom-Esisis, located in Niefang District , Centro Sur Province, Equatorial Guinea. [1] [2] He grew up in the country and became a competitive swimmer in 2013. [2] A member of the Malabo Swimming Club, and coached by Florencio Engono, [3] he regularly competed in short-distance events – including the 50 metres in freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly stroke, and in the 100 metres in freestyle. [2] [4] He won the gold medal at the district championships in 2019. [2]
Ndong was selected to make his international debut at the 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m), although he ended up being a non-starter in both his scheduled events, the 50m and 100m freestyle. [5] He competed at the 2022 African Swimming Championships as one of only two Equatoguineans. [6] He also participated at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in the 50m freestyle, being unable to advance past his heat with a time of 29.48 seconds, although a personal best. [4] [5] He competed for Equatorial Guinea at the 2023 African Games, hosted in Accra, and set a personal best time in the 50m butterfly at 32.54s, only eight-hundredths of a second slower than the national record, although he placed fourth in his heat and failed to advance. [7]
Ndong was selected for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, although he was a non-starter in both events he was chosen for, and was selected for the 2024 African Swimming Championships in four events. [5] In July 2024, he received a universality selection to participate at the 2024 Summer Olympics, being one of only three Equatoguineans invited and the only swimmer. [8] Along with Sefora Ada Eto, Ndong served as the co-flag bearer for his country at the opening Olympic ceremony. [9] At the Olympics, he competed in the 50m freestyle event as part of heat two. [10] [11] [12] He placed third in his heat with a time of 28.42, setting a personal best and the national record, although he failed to advance to the semifinals. [13] [14]
Eric Moussambani Malonga is an Equatoguinean swimmer. Nicknamed Eric the Eel by the media, Moussambani won brief international fame at the 2000 Summer Olympics for an extremely unlikely victory. Moussambani, who had never seen an Olympic-sized swimming pool before, swam his heat of the 100 m freestyle on 19 September in a time of 1:52.72. This was the slowest time in Olympic history by far, and Moussambani had trouble finishing the race, but he won his heat after both his competitors were disqualified due to false starts. Although Moussambani's time was still too slow to advance to the next round, he set a new personal best and an Equatoguinean national record. He later became the coach of the national swimming squad of Equatorial Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, which was held from 15 September to 1 October 2000. The country's participation in Sydney marked its fifth appearance in the Summer Olympics since its debut at the 1984 Summer Olympics. The delegation included one middle-distance runner, one short-distance sprinter and two swimmers: José Luis Ebatela Nvo, Mari Paz Mosanga Motanga, Eric Moussambani and Paula Barila Bolopa respectively. All four athletes qualified for the games through wildcard places. Moussambani was selected as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony. The four athletes were unable to advance beyond the first rounds of their respective events, with Moussambani and Bolopa attracting attention for their poor performances, but were applauded by the crowds.
Equatorial Guinea competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, which was held from 8 to 24 August 2008. The country's participation at Beijing marked its seventh appearance in the Summer Olympics since its début at the 1984 Summer Olympics. The delegation included the sprinter Reginaldo Ndong, middle-distance runner Emilia Mikue Ondo and half-middleweight judoka José Mba Nchama. Ndong and Mikue Ondo qualified for the Games through wildcard places and Mba Nchama entered through his ranking at the 2007 African Judo Championships. Mikue Ondo was chosen as the flag bearer for both the opening and closing ceremonies. Ndong and Mikue Ondo progressed no farther than the first round of their respective events and Mba Nchama was eliminated from contention in the second round of the contest.
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