An Olympic effort, from Providence to Paris

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] - With quadruple citizenship across the United States, United Kingdom, Finland and Gambia, Amie Barrow had a world of options when it came to choosing where to attend college. But the rising junior's curiosity was piqued by Providence, where she enrolled in Brown University's Program in Liberal Medical Education.

She'll start her third year of the program in the fall - but not before heading to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where she will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke as the first and only woman in history to represent Gambia in swimming.

"It's really exciting to have the opportunity to do something for the first time - to represent the women and girls of Gambia," Barrow said. "But it's a little bit scary at the same time. I don't think it's fully hit me that I'm going to the Olympics."

Though she's been swimming at Brown for only two years, Barrow has been competing professionally since she was 8 years old, when she moved to Shorewood, Wisconsin, from her birthplace in the United Kingdom.

A fierce competitor in breaststroke events, her favorite race is the 200-meter, which she set a personal record in - along with the 100-meter - at the Ivy League Championships in February.

"Her Olympic dream is something that was developed at Brown," said Kate Kovenock, head coach of the Brown women's swimming and diving team. "As she got better, she realized representing Gambia on the highest stage was something she could really strive towards."

And she won't be going alone. At the Paris Games, Barrow will be joined by her fellow Brown swimming teammate Zehra Bilgin, a rising senior who will represent her home country of Turkey in the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay.