Farida Osman Biography: Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Speed, Awards

Farida Hisham Osman, famously known as Farida Osman, is an Egyptian competitive swimmer renowned for being Egypt’s and Africa’s fastest female swimmer, specializing in butterfly and freestyle sprint events.

A three-time Olympian and two-time World Championship bronze medalist, she holds multiple Egyptian and African records, including those in the 50m and 100m butterfly events and the 50m freestyle.

Osman is celebrated for breaking barriers for Arab and African women in sports, earning accolades such as the 2017 Best Female Athlete from Africa by the Association of National Olympic Committees.

Profile

• Full Name: Farida Hisham Osman
• Stage Name: Farida Osman
• Born: 18, January 1995
• Age: 30 years old
• Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
• Nationality: Egyptian
• Occupation: Competitive Swimmer
• Height: 173 cm
• Parents: Hisham Osman and Randa Elsalawy
• Siblings: Ahmed Osman
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $1 million

Early Life and Education

Farida Hisham Osman was born on January 18, 1995, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to dentists Hisham Osman and Randa Elsalawy, who were attending IUPUI at the time. Raised in Cairo, Egypt, alongside her older brother Ahmed, she began swimming at age five at the Gezira Sporting Club.

Osman initially attended the Oasis French School in Cairo before transferring to the Lycée Français du Caire. She later studied at the Cairo American College from 2010 to 2013, where she formed lasting friendships.

Osman pursued higher education at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies while competing as an NCAA swimmer, where she was named the top female athlete for the 2017–2018 season. Her ethnicity is Egyptian, and her religious beliefs are not publicly disclosed.  

Career

Farida Hisham Osman began her swimming career at the age of five, training at the Gezira Sporting Club in Cairo alongside her brother, Ahmed. By age 11, she won national titles in the 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly, earning the “Best Swimmer” trophy.

At 12, she became the youngest athlete at the 2007 Pan Arab Games in Cairo, breaking the Arab record in the 50m butterfly. Her international breakthrough came in 2009 at the FINA World Championships in Rome, where, at 14, she was among the youngest competitors, setting a precedent for her record-breaking career.

In 2011, she won gold in the 50m butterfly at the FINA World Junior Championships in Lima, Peru, setting a world junior record and marking Egypt’s first medal at the event.  

Osman’s career soared with her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Games at the age of 17, where she competed in the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly events, becoming the first Egyptian woman to reach an Olympic semifinal. In 2013, she made history as the first Egyptian to qualify for a World Championship final, finishing 7th in the 50m butterfly in Barcelona.

Her pinnacle achievement came in 2017, when she won a bronze medal in the 50m butterfly at the FINA World Championships in Budapest, setting an African record of 25.39 seconds, a first for an Egyptian swimmer in the pool.

She repeated this feat in 2019 in Gwangju, South Korea, and again in 2024, becoming the first Egyptian and Arab swimmer to win three World Championship medals. Osman also secured two golds and a silver at the 2018 Mediterranean Games, setting records in the 50m freestyle and butterfly.  

Currently, Osman remains a leading figure in Egyptian swimming. However, she faced a setback with her exclusion from the 2024 Paris Olympics, which she described as a challenging moment after years of intense training.

Despite this, she continues to compete, recently winning a bronze medal at the 2024 World Championships. Osman trains in the U.S. under coach Teri McKeever and has expressed interest in transitioning to roles in marketing or fashion after retirement, leveraging her background in media studies.

Her influence extends beyond the pool, as she inspires young athletes, particularly Arab women, through initiatives such as her branded swimming academy, launched in partnership with Hyde Park Developments in 2018.

Osman’s legacy as a pioneer for Egyptian and African swimmers is solidified by her records, medals, and advocacy for greater support for individual sports in Egypt.  

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @farida_osman
• Facebook Handle: Farida Osman
• Twitter Handle: @FaridaOsman

Personal Life

Farida Hisham Osman is single and has no children. She keeps her personal life private, focusing public attention on her athletic achievements and advocacy.

Osman has spoken about the sacrifices her career demands, including limited social time due to rigorous training schedules, which she has balanced since her teenage years.

She credits her family, particularly her mother and brother, for their unwavering support, especially during challenging periods, such as her move to the U.S. for training.

Net Worth

Farida Hisham Osman’s estimated net worth is USD 1 million. Her primary sources of income include sponsorships, such as her deal with Arena through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as well as earnings from her competitive swimming career, including prize money from international competitions. Additional revenue comes from her branded swimming academy, launched in 2018 in collaboration with Hyde Park Developments, which aims to nurture Egyptian talent.