Frieda Lim becomes the first Singaporean female diver to qualify for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics

Freida Lim will be the first Singaporean female diver to compete in the Olympic Games. 

Her qualification was announced by the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Jun 22).

“National Diver Freida Lim has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics by virtue of her placing at the recent FINA Diving World Cup 2021,” wrote SSA in the post. 

During the FINA Diving World Cup in Tokyo last month, the 23-year-old swimmer finished 11th in the women’s 10m Platform preliminary competition and advanced to the semi-finals. She clocked a score of 272.35 during the semi-finals and came in 15th. 

According to FINA, only 68 Olympic spots are available for female divers – 32 for synchronised events and 36 for the two individual events. 

Frieda is the second diver in Singapore’s history to qualify for the Olympics. She joins Jonathan Chan, who secured qualification in 2019, at the Tokyo Games. 

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong congratulated Frieda’s achievement in a Facebook post on Tuesday. 

“During the FINA Diving World Cup Qualifiers in Tokyo last month, Freida was juggling her final exams while completing 10 dives in two days. Very happy for her that not only has she qualified for the Olympics, she has also graduated with a double degree in Dietetics & Culinary Science and Nutrition,” Mr Tong wrote. 

“Congratulations Freida!”

Other athletes who have secured qualification to the Olympics, held this year from Jul 28 to Aug 8, include Chantal Liew, Singaporean’s first open water swimmer to have qualified for the Olympics, fencers Amita Berthier and Kiria Tikanah, as well as badminton players Loh Kean Yew and Yeo Jia Min.