Alia Atkinson could barely believe she had become the first black woman to claim a world title in the pool. h/t CNN .
Jamaica's Alia Atkinson has become the first black woman to claim a world title in the pool, finishing first in the final of the 100 meters breaststroke at the world short course swimming championships in Doha.
AP Photo/Osama Faisal
The 25-year-old went into the final as the second favorite behind Lithuania's Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte.
AP Photo/Osama Faisal
So when she finished the race, lifted her goggles, and looked to the scoreboard to see she had won, her reaction was priceless.
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"In the last 25 meters, I made sure the pull-out was the best, I really wanted to get that momentum coming up and I think I did that for the most part," she told the swimming website FINA. "While I was going up I realized I was catching up so I was just trying to get a good finish."