Hem Raksmey

Hem Raksmey (born September 6, 1983) is a Cambodian former swimmer, who specialized in sprint freestyle and breaststroke events.[1] She represented Cambodia in two editions of the Olympic Games (1996 and 2000), and also held numerous age group records in all strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly). She also shared a sibling tandem together with her brother Hem Kiry, when they both competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics.[2]

In this Cambodian name, the surname is Hem. In accordance with Cambodian custom, this person should be referred to by the given name.
Hem Raksmey
Personal information
Full nameHem Raksmey
National team Cambodia
Born (1983-09-06) 6 September 1983
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight65 kg (143 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, breaststroke

Hem made her Olympic debut, as Cambodia's youngest ever athlete and swimmer (aged 12), at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. There, she failed to reach the top 16 final in the 100 m breaststroke, finishing last out of 46 swimmers in 1:44.68.[2][3]

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Hem competed only in the 50 m freestyle. Invited to the Games as a wild card selection by FINA officials, she entered the race in her lifetime best of 34.78.[2][4] She challenged six other swimmers in heat two, including Maldives' 13-year-old Fariha Fathimath. She scorched the field to a seventh seed in a Cambodian record of 33.11, edging Iraq's Noor Haki out to last place by 2.4 seconds. Hem failed to advance into the semifinals, as she placed seventieth overall in the prelims.[5][6][7]

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Hem Raksmey". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  2. Bloss, Dave (16 September 2000). "Cambodia and the World". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  3. "Atlanta 1996: Aquatics (Swimming) – Women's 100m Breaststroke Heat 1" (PDF). Atlanta 1996. LA84 Foundation. p. 43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  4. "Swimming – Women's 50m Freestyle Startlist (Heat 2)" (PDF). Sydney 2000. Omega Timing. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  5. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Women's 50m Freestyle Heat 2" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 164. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  6. "Results from the Summer Olympics – Swimming (Women's 50m Freestyle)". Canoe.ca. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  7. "Cambodian Olympians: a Third World Tale". Utusan Malaysia. 25 September 2000. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
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