Naomy Grand’Pierre, a University of Chicago swimmer, is set to become the first female swimmer in the Haitian Olympic Federation racing in the 50 meter freestyle on August 12 in Rio.
Grand’Pierre grew up as the oldest of five children of Haitian immigrant parents in Atlanta, Georgia and has dual citizenship here in the U.S allowing her to compete for the Caribbean nation.
With all the attention and fame that she has and will garner by being an Olympian, she says her main mission is set for after the Rio Olympics.
“I want to help grow swimming in Haiti,” she said. “I want to be that person to help the Haitian swimming federation. I know I’ll be going back a lot.”
She had three relatives who died as children in drowning accidents and her mother wanted her and her siblings to become capable swimmers. That is how she got her start.
“Those tragedies made a big mark on me,” Clio Grand’Pierre said, Naomy’s mother. “I wanted my kids to swim so I would never receive news like that.”
All five became competitive swimmers, and Naomy picked the University of Chicago because of its rigorous academics and Division III swim program.
Clio was instrumental in working with the Haitian Olympic Federation in creating a swimming team, not for her daughter to have an opportunity, she said, but for all of Haiti and Haitian-Americans to see swimming as an inspirational feat.
Clio hopes that with Naomy’s spot in the Olympics, the family will be able to raise swimming’s profile in Haiti, and hopefully save lives in the process.
