Two months ago, World Aquatics opened the highest competition pool in the world in Thimphu, Bhutan. At 8200 feet, the nation’s first competition pool was a collaboration with World Aquatics as part of the ground-breaking ‘Pools for All’ programme. The World Aquatics development initiative, launched in 2019, aims to ensure that all World Aquatics national member federations have access to the best possible facilities to promote aquatic sports.

Whilst the pool has only been open for eight weeks, there is one Bhutanese swimmer that is already putting his nation on the map. At Tokyo 2020, Sangay Tenzin became Bhutan’s first Olympic swimmer. Here in Paris, he is again representing the Asian nation as one of three athletes competing across archery, athletics, and swimming events.

Image Source: Sangay Tenzin of Team Bhutan competes in the Men’s 100m Freestyle Heats at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Tenzin is a product of the World Aquatics Scholarship Programme that provides training and competition opportunities for swimmers from developing nations. Based at the World Aquatics Training Centre in Thailand, the 20-year-old has developed into a world-class freestyler and butterflier, culminating with his second Olympic Games appearance this week.

“I was very fortunate back in 2019 when World Aquatics and the Bhutanese Swimming Federation granted me a scholarship,” Tenzin told World Aquatics after his event in Paris.

“I was able to travel to Thailand, where I have been for five years now, and I've improved so much and learned so many new things.”

“I’ve been able to develop into a professional swimmer and travel to so many competitions, including the Olympics and World Aquatics Championships. It has been such an exciting and beautiful experience going to big competitions and seeing swimming stars right in front of my eyes.”

When Tenzin walked out for his heat at Paris La Defense Arena on Tuesday morning, the noise was deafening. Hometown hero Leon Marchand had just raced the 200m Butterfly in the heat before his, and when Tenzin and his fellow six competitors climbed onto the blocks, the chant of ‘Leon, Leon’ was still echoing around the arena.

“The crowd, it makes your heart race, it was an incredible experience to swim in front of this many people,” said Tenzin.

“My first Olympics at Tokyo 2020 there was no crowd, it was basically swimming by yourself, so right now this venue is just so electrifying.”

Tenzin channelled the atmosphere within the arena to touch third in his 100m Freestyle heat, posting a near personal-best time of 56.08. It is a far cry from the 1:07.28 he swam at his first World Aquatics Championships and is testament to the strength of the World Aquatics Training Centre program in Thailand.

“Back when I started swimming there was no such thing as a swimming scholarship or swimming club back in my country, it was all about football, swimming wasn't really a sport,” Tenzin explained.

“It was just for fun – so basically me and one other swimmer became the first two Bhutanese swimmers. I think we took the stepping stone for swimming as a sport in my country.”

There is no doubt this step also paved the way for the development of the nation’s first competition pool that Tenzin hopes will encourage the next generation of swimmers in his homeland.

“Establishing a training environment in my country is important for the sport and its future, and hopefully this will be another important step in the development of more swimmers and a professional system.”